Commercial Property Rent Calculator - NNN & Gross Lease

Calculate commercial lease costs including base rent, NNN (triple net), CAM charges, and utilities. Compare your rate to market averages and project total lease costs.

Space & Base Rent

Market: $20-$60/SF

Additional Expenses ($/SF/Year)

Lease Cost Summary

Monthly Rent (Year 1)

$8,646

$103,750/year

Base Rent$70,000/yr
NNN Expenses$28,750/yr
Utilities$5,000/yr

Effective Rate$41.50/SF

Market Comparison

~ Within Market

Market range: $20-$60/SF

Total Lease Cost (5 years)

$549,277

~16 employees @ $6,484/employee/yr

Commercial Lease Types Explained

Gross Lease (Full Service)

Landlord pays all operating expenses. Tenant pays one flat rent amount.

Tenant Pays: Base rent only

Landlord Pays: Taxes, insurance, CAM, utilities

Best For: Tenants wanting predictable costs

Triple Net (NNN) Lease

Tenant pays base rent plus property taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

Tenant Pays: Base + taxes + insurance + CAM

Landlord Pays: Structural repairs only

Best For: Long-term tenants, retail

Modified Gross Lease

Hybrid lease where some expenses are shared between landlord and tenant.

Tenant Pays: Base + some expenses (varies)

Landlord Pays: Remaining expenses

Best For: Negotiated arrangements

Commercial Rent Rates by Property Type (2025)

Property TypeLow ($/SF/Yr)AverageHighTypical NNN
Class A Office$30$45$80+$8-15
Class B Office$20$30$45$6-12
Retail (Strip Mall)$18$28$45$8-14
Industrial/Flex$8$12$20$2-5
Warehouse$6$10$16$1-3
Medical Office$25$40$70$10-18

*Rates vary significantly by location. Major metros (NYC, SF, LA) can be 2-3x higher.

What's Included in NNN (Triple Net) Expenses?

Property Taxes

Your pro-rata share of the building's property taxes based on square footage.

Typical Cost: $2-8/SF/year
Note: Can increase annually with reassessments

Insurance

Building insurance (not your business liability insurance).

Typical Cost: $1-3/SF/year
Note: Higher in flood/hurricane zones

CAM (Common Area Maintenance)

Shared costs for parking lots, landscaping, lobbies, elevators, security.

Typical Cost: $4-12/SF/year
Note: Ask for CAM cap in lease

Frequently Asked Questions

What does NNN mean in commercial real estate?

NNN stands for "Triple Net" lease, where the tenant pays three additional costs on top of base rent: property taxes (N), building insurance (N), and common area maintenance/CAM (N). This is the most common lease structure for retail and industrial properties.

How do I calculate commercial rent per square foot?

Divide your total annual rent by the square footage. For example, if you pay $5,000/month for 2,000 SF: ($5,000 × 12) ÷ 2,000 = $30/SF/year. For NNN leases, add the NNN expenses to get your "effective" or "all-in" rate.

What is a good commercial lease rate?

A "good" rate depends on location, property type, and market conditions. Generally, aim for rates at or below market average for your area. Office space typically runs $20-50/SF, retail $18-40/SF, and industrial $8-15/SF. Always compare all-in costs, not just base rent.

Should I negotiate a CAM cap?

Yes! A CAM cap limits how much your CAM charges can increase each year (typically 3-5%). Without a cap, landlords can pass through unlimited expense increases. Also negotiate to exclude capital expenditures and management fees from CAM calculations.