Warehouse Space in Denver: A 2026 Guide for Small Businesses
You've probably read that Denver is a renter's market. For a 100,000 square foot distribution center, that's true. For a 700 square foot warehouse with a loading dock, it's a different story.
Denver is really two industrial markets. One has more empty space than it's had in 20 years. The other, the small spaces growing businesses actually need, is one of the tightest segments in the metro.
Here's what warehouse space costs in Denver right now, why the numbers you'll see online don't describe the space you're looking for, and what to ask before you sign anything.
Key takeaways
- Denver industrial rents average about $9 to $12 per square foot per year, before taxes, insurance, maintenance, and utilities. Denver listings usually quote rent per year.
- Overall vacancy is the highest in two decades, but small spaces under 20,000 square feet are running around 5% vacancy.
- Smaller spaces rent at higher rates per foot. Denver flex listings around 1,000 to 2,000 square feet commonly ask $18 per square foot per year or more.
- Market rates describe bigger spaces with fewer inclusions and longer commitments. They aren't a like-for-like comparison with an all-inclusive suite.
- FlexEtc Denver is at 5180 Fox St in Globeville, with private warehouse suites from 300 to 3,000 square feet starting at $1,099 a month.
How much does warehouse space cost in Denver?
Denver industrial space averages about $9 to $12 per square foot per year. WareCRE puts Denver at $10.09 per square foot NNN for Q2 2026. Savills reports $8.75, and CommercialCafe's current listings average $11.86. Brokers measure the market differently, so expect some spread.
Those are annual numbers. Divide by 12 for the monthly rate: $10.09 per year works out to about $0.84 per square foot per month.
Those averages combine every size of industrial space in the metro. Denver's warehouse listings currently range from 580 square feet to more than 500,000 square feet, and the big buildings pull the averages down. The figures that come with a size tell a different story:
| What's being measured | Size it describes | Rent per sq ft, per year | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Denver metro industrial average (WareCRE, Q2 2026) | All sizes combined | $10.09, NNN | About $0.84 |
| Small-bay industrial, Central/I-25 (WareCRE, Q1 2026) | Buildings under 20,000 sq ft | $9 to $11, NNN | About $0.75 to $0.92 |
| Denver industrial listing | 1,800 to 7,500 sq ft | $15 to $23 | About $1.25 to $1.92 |
| Denver flex listing | 750 to 2,200 sq ft | $18 | About $1.50 |
| FlexEtc Denver | 300 to 3,000 sq ft, all-inclusive | Not quoted per sq ft | One all-in monthly rate |
The pattern is consistent: the smaller the space, the higher the rate per foot. A rate built on 50,000 square foot buildings won't hold for 1,000 square feet.
Is Denver a renter's market right now?
For large spaces, yes. Denver industrial vacancy has climbed to 9.3%, the highest in more than 20 years, as the market works through the construction wave of 2021 to 2024. That has given tenants more choices, more leverage, and landlords more willing to offer concessions and flexible terms. CBRE describes the market as tenant-favorable overall, while noting that conditions vary by submarket.
Small spaces are the exception. Industrial space under 20,000 square feet is running around 5% vacancy, more than 300 basis points below the overall market. In central Denver along I-25, small-bay space is similarly tight, with rents of $9 to $11 per square foot NNN.
So the leverage you read about mostly belongs to companies leasing big buildings. If you need 800 square feet close to downtown, you're shopping in the tight half of the market.
Why aren't Denver market rates a fair comparison?
Market rates describe a different product. They're the base rent on a larger space you'd set up and run yourself, usually on a multi-year lease. A FlexEtc rate is the total monthly cost of a smaller, move-in ready space with the essentials included.
Four differences matter most:
Size. Per-square-foot rates usually drop as spaces get bigger, so metro averages will always look lower than anything sized for a small business.
What's included. Many Denver industrial listings are quoted NNN, or triple net. That means you pay the base rent plus your share of the building's property taxes, insurance, and maintenance. After that, you set up your own utilities and internet, and you furnish a space that often arrives as an empty shell.
How the rate is quoted. Denver rents are usually quoted per square foot per year. Divide by 12 before you compare anything priced monthly.
Commitment. Traditional industrial leases typically run several years, even in a soft market. That's a big commitment for a business that looked completely different six months ago.
So the number to compare isn't price per square foot. It's what you'll pay each month to actually run your business out of a space the size you need.
What does a Denver warehouse really cost each month?
Here's what you pay for on a traditional lease compared with a FlexEtc membership:
| Cost | Traditional NNN lease | FlexEtc Denver |
|---|---|---|
| Base rent | You pay, usually quoted per year | You pay, one monthly rate |
| Property taxes, building insurance, maintenance | You pay, and it can change year to year | Included |
| Standard power and water | You pay | Included |
| High-speed WiFi | You pay and set it up | Included |
| Loading dock access | Depends on the building | Included |
| Shipping, receiving, and mail handling | Not included | Included, handled by on-site staff |
| Conference rooms | Rent elsewhere | Included |
| Photo and podcast studios | Not included | Included |
| Kitchen and coffee bar | Not included | Included |
| Security and access | Depends on the building | 24/7 member access, included |
| Build-out and furnishing | Often a bare shell | Move-in ready |
| Security deposit | Required | Required |
| Your own business insurance | Required | Required |
| Commitment | Typically several years | Flexible |
To compare two spaces fairly, add up every line that applies to your business. For the traditional lease, that's base rent converted to a monthly number, NNN charges, utilities, internet, and the cost of anything you'd pay for elsewhere, like a meeting room or studio time. Then compare that total with a FlexEtc membership for the same amount of usable space.
For scale: a 1,000 square foot Denver flex space at $18 per square foot per year comes to $1,500 a month in base rent alone, before NNN charges or any of the other lines in that table.
What should I ask before signing a Denver warehouse lease?
Ask these on every tour, whether it's ours or someone else's:
- What size is the advertised rate based on? A rate for a large space won't hold for a small one.
- Is the rent quoted per year or per month? Convert everything to a monthly number before you compare.
- What's the all-in monthly cost? Get base rent, NNN charges, utilities, and internet as one number.
- What concessions are available, and when do they end? In a soft market, free months are common for larger spaces. Check what you'll pay after they run out.
- Is the square footage usable or rentable? Rentable square footage includes your share of hallways and common areas. Usable is the space you can actually fill.
- How much power does the space have? This matters if you run equipment, not just shelves.
- Can you get in after hours? Early shipments and weekend packing sessions shouldn't depend on a landlord's schedule.
- What happens if you outgrow the space, or need less of it? Find out before you sign.
Where is FlexEtc Denver?
FlexEtc Denver is at 5180 Fox St in Globeville, where I-25 meets I-70, with RiNo around the corner. It's about five minutes off I-25, so carrier runs, client visits, and trips downtown stay short.
We opened in 2024 in an 80,000 square foot industrial building that we rebuilt from the ground up as private warehouse suites and creative offices.
What's included at FlexEtc Denver?
Every FlexEtc Denver membership includes the space plus what you'd otherwise pay for separately:
- Private warehouse suites and private offices
- Loading docks
- Shipping, receiving, and daily carrier pickups
- Mail and package handling by on-site staff
- Conference rooms
- A kitchen and coffee bar
- Photo and podcast studios
- High-speed WiFi and on-site printing
- 24/7 member access and security
- Coworking and shared workspace
- A community manager and community events
How much does FlexEtc Denver cost?
FlexEtc's rate per square foot is higher than the Denver market averages above, and we'd rather you hear that from us. Those averages describe larger spaces, rented as empty shells, on multi-year leases, with taxes, maintenance, and utilities billed on top. Our rate is for a smaller, move-in ready space with those costs included, plus WiFi, dock access, staff, security, and studios.
As of September 2026, private warehouse suites at FlexEtc Denver start at:
- Small: $1,099 a month
- Medium: $1,785 a month
- Large: $3,078 a month
That's the monthly rate with everything in the table above already included. You'll find current rates and suite sizes on our Denver location page. Bring them, along with any other listings you're considering, to your tour, and we'll run the full comparison with you line by line.
A few other things are good to know up front. We measure square footage as usable space, so the number on the listing is the space you get. Denver suites range from 300 to 3,000 square feet. Every membership requires a security deposit, and each member business carries its own insurance. Extra key fobs and increased power for high-draw equipment are available for a fee.
Coming soon: FlexEtc Broomfield
If you're north of the city or closer to Boulder, FlexEtc Broomfield opens in January 2027 at 601 Alter St, on the US-36 corridor, about 20 minutes from Globeville. Join the early access list for first pick of suites, hardhat tours before opening, and our founding member offer: 3 months free on a 12-month term.
Join the Broomfield early access list
Who is FlexEtc Denver built for?
FlexEtc Denver is built for businesses that need to do real work in their space, not just store things. That includes:
- Ecommerce brands shipping daily and moving out of the garage
- Contractors and trades that need a place for tools, materials, and a loading dock
- Creators and product brands that need photo and podcast studios down the hall from their inventory
- Event and marketing companies that need a place for props, materials, and project work
- Service businesses and small teams that need a private office with a real address
- Seasonal businesses that need more room for part of the year
If you're outgrowing your garage, getting ready for your first real space, or growing faster than you planned, there's a space here sized for where you are now.
See it in person
The best way to know if a space fits is to stand in it. Come walk the suites, the docks, the studios, and the shared spaces at 5180 Fox St, and bring your questions about the numbers.
You focus on what you do best. We'll take care of the etc.
FAQs
Is FlexEtc Denver more expensive than a traditional warehouse?
FlexEtc's rate per square foot is higher than Denver market averages, but the two aren't measuring the same thing. Market averages describe larger spaces, quoted NNN, on multi-year leases, with taxes, maintenance, and utilities billed separately. FlexEtc's rate covers a smaller, move-in ready space with those costs included, plus WiFi, dock access, staff, security, and photo and podcast studios. To compare accurately, add up your total monthly cost for each option.
How much does warehouse space cost in Denver?
Denver industrial rents average about $9 to $12 per square foot per year, plus NNN charges for taxes, insurance, and maintenance. Smaller spaces cost more per foot. Flex listings around 1,000 to 2,000 square feet commonly ask $18 per square foot per year or more.
Is Denver a renter's market for warehouse space?
For large buildings, yes. Overall vacancy is the highest in more than 20 years. Small spaces under 20,000 square feet are much tighter, at around 5% vacancy.
Why is warehouse space in Denver quoted per year?
Denver industrial rents are typically quoted as an annual rate per square foot. Divide by 12 to get the monthly cost per square foot, then multiply by your square footage.
Where is FlexEtc Denver located?
FlexEtc Denver is at 5180 Fox St in Globeville, where I-25 meets I-70, about five minutes off I-25.
What size spaces does FlexEtc Denver offer?
FlexEtc Denver offers private warehouse suites from 300 to 3,000 square feet, measured as usable space.
What does FlexEtc Denver cost?
As of September 2026, private warehouse suites at FlexEtc Denver start at $1,099 a month for a small suite, $1,785 for medium, and $3,078 for large, all-inclusive. Current rates are on the FlexEtc Denver page.
Does FlexEtc Denver have a photo or podcast studio?
Yes. FlexEtc Denver members have access to photo and podcast studios, along with a kitchen and coffee bar, conference rooms, and shared workspace.
Is FlexEtc opening another Colorado location?
Yes. FlexEtc Broomfield opens in January 2027 at 601 Alter St, on the US-36 corridor between Denver and Boulder.
Sources
- WareCRE, Warehouse Market Reports 2026
- WareCRE, Denver Industrial & Warehouse Market Report Q1 2026
- Savills, Denver Industrial Market in Minutes Q2 2026
- Cresa, Denver Industrial Market Report Q2 2026
- CBRE, Denver Industrial Figures Q2 2026
- PropertyShark, Denver Industrial Space for Rent
- CommercialCafe, Denver Industrial Spaces for Rent
- CityFeet, Denver Industrial Space for Lease
- CityFeet, Denver Flex Space for Lease