Industrial Power Density Calculator

Power density determines tenant pool — light vs heavy industrial vs manufacturing.

Building sq ft

Total service kVA

Tenant class

Current density (W/sf)

7.5

Tenant fit

Fits class

Additional capacity needed (kVA)

How the math works

Density (W/sf) = (kVA × 1000) / sq ft. Compare to tenant class requirement.

1500 kVA × 1000 / 200,000 = 7.5 W/sf. Heavy mfg needs 15 W/sf — insufficient.

How to Use

Enter building sq ft.
Enter total service kva.
Enter tenant class.
Read current density (w/sf).

Frequently Asked Questions

Industrial power density?

Class warehouse: 0.5–1.5 watts/sf. Light manufacturing: 2–6 W/sf. Heavy manufacturing: 6–25 W/sf. Cold storage: 8–20 W/sf. Data center: 75–250+ W/sf. New industrial Class A: 1.5–3.0 W/sf standard, expandable. Power upgrade cost: $1–3/sf base service capacity, more for heavy manufacturing. Service capacity drives tenant pool — chemical, food processing, EV battery manufacturers all need substantial power. Solar PPA opportunity: 10–25% utility cost reduction for high-load tenants.

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.