Picking the wrong warehouse can cost you more than just money—it messes with your delivery times, inventory accuracy, and customer satisfaction. When you’re trying to find logistics warehouse space that actually works for your operation, you’re not just looking at square footage. You’re making a decision that affects every part of your supply chain, from how fast you can turn orders around to whether you can even scale up when business gets good. The average company spends about 6-8% of their total revenue on warehousing costs, so getting this right matters more than most business owners realize.
Location Isn’t Just About Being Close to Customers
Yeah, proximity to your customer base matters, but there’s more to it. You need to think about how close you are to major highways, rail lines, and ports if you’re dealing with imports. A warehouse that’s 20 minutes further from your customers but right next to a highway interchange might actually get products delivered faster because your trucks aren’t stuck in city traffic.
Labor availability is another thing people forget about. A facility in an area with low unemployment might sound great until you realize you can’t find enough workers during peak season. Check the local labor market before you commit. Some regions have better pools of experienced warehouse workers, and that makes training easier and turnover lower.
The Building Itself Needs to Match Your Operation
Clear height matters way more than most people think. If you’ve got a warehouse with 24-foot ceilings but you need to stack pallets four-high for your inventory type, you’re wasting vertical space. Modern facilities often have 32-foot or higher ceilings, which lets you use vertical racking systems that can double or triple your storage density.
Floor load capacity is technical but critical. Standard concrete floors handle about 600-800 pounds per square foot, but if you’re storing heavy machinery parts or dense products, you need floors rated for higher loads. Ask about the floor specification—this isn’t something you can easily fix after moving in.
Column spacing affects how you can lay out your racking. Older warehouses might have columns every 30 feet, which creates awkward spaces. Newer builds often have clear spans of 50+ feet, giving you way more flexibility in how you arrange everything.
Technology Infrastructure Gets Overlooked
Most businesses now run warehouse management systems that need solid internet connectivity. Check what kind of internet service is available. Some industrial areas still only have basic DSL, which won’t cut it if you’re running real-time inventory tracking or automated picking systems.
Power capacity is another technical detail that can bite you. If you’re planning to add automation equipment, refrigeration, or just a lot of computers and scanners, make sure the electrical system can handle it. Upgrading electrical infrastructure in a leased space gets complicated fast with landlord approvals and who pays for what.
Hidden Costs That Show Up Later
Dock doors seem simple until you realize you don’t have enough. A good rule is one dock door for every 10,000-15,000 square feet of space, but this varies based on how many trucks you’re loading daily. Too few doors means trucks waiting outside, drivers getting paid to sit idle, and delayed shipments.
Temperature control costs vary wildly. Even if you don’t need full refrigeration, climate control for product protection can add 30-40% to your monthly costs. Some older buildings have terrible insulation, which makes heating and cooling expensive.
Security features affect insurance premiums. Buildings with modern security systems, fencing, and good lighting can lower your insurance costs by 15-20% compared to facilities with basic security. It’s worth factoring this into your comparison.
