Data Center Acquisition Calculator

Data center revenue scales with megawatt capacity sold; PUE drives operating cost.

Total MW capacity

Monthly revenue / kW

Occupancy %

Expense ratio %

Cap rate %

Purchase price

$52,961,538

NOI

$3,442,500

Annual revenue

$7,650,000

How the math works

Revenue = (MW × 1000 × occupancy) × $/kW × 12. NOI = revenue × (1 − expense). Price = NOI / cap.

5 MW × 1000 × 85% = 4,250 kW × $150 × 12 = $7.65M × 45% = $3.44M NOI / 6.5% = $52.96M.

How to Use

Enter total mw capacity.
Enter monthly revenue / kw.
Enter occupancy %.
Enter expense ratio %.
Enter cap rate %.
Read purchase price.

Frequently Asked Questions

Data center economics?

Revenue: $80–250 per kW per month colocation. Cabinet (10 kW): $800–2,500/mo. Cage/half-cabinet: $400–1,200/mo. Wholesale (>500 kW): $80–150/kW/mo. Hyperscale: built-to-suit, often 12–15 yr triple-net. PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness): 1.3–1.6 modern, 2.0+ legacy. Power cost: $0.06–0.15/kWh wholesale rate. Cap rate: 5.5–7.5% Class A institutional, higher for older. Major operators: Equinix, Digital Realty, CyrusOne. Cooling, power redundancy critical to underwriting.

How does this asset class compare to traditional CRE?

Specialty assets (self-storage, RV parks, MHP, marinas, cold storage, data centers, parking, car wash, QSR/c-store, billboards, cell towers) typically offer higher cap rates than office/retail but with more operational complexity. They reward specialized operators with deep market knowledge. Lender pool is narrower, capital costs sometimes 50–150 bps higher, but downside resilience often better.

Capex and operational considerations?

Specialty assets often have heavier operational burden than passive triple-net retail. Self-storage, RV, MHP: tenant turn, security, basic upkeep. Marinas, parking, car wash: equipment-heavy with replacement reserves. Cold storage, data center: utilities are major cost. Billboards, cell towers: minimal opex, near-passive. Match management capacity to asset operational intensity.

Exit strategy?

Specialty asset cap rates have compressed significantly over last cycle but volatility is real. Buyers: REITs, private equity rollups, regional operators, 1031 buyers. Strong NOI history, environmental clarity (especially for car wash, gas station), and lease structure (for billboards, cell towers) drive valuation. Plan exit 24+ months in advance for best execution.