What are the different types of commercial real estate?

Commercial real estate is a broad category that includes a high variety of space types designed to meet the needs of various industries of the local economy and their specialized subsectors, as presented in our real estate 101 guide to types of commercial real estate . However, there are three main categories that you are most likely to come across: office, retail, and industrial space . Modern office space is typically organized over large floor plates bound by high ceilings and large windows for an abundance of natural light and is located in transit-oriented developments with good access to multiple modes of transportation, so as to facilitate employee commute. The Boston commercial real estate market incorporates 132,396,974 square feet of office space across 606 buildings. Office buildings can also accommodate coworking spaces , which are shared office options that typically cater to the needs of small, startup businesses that require flexible workspaces, a concentration of amenities, and services that can be accessed on an occasional or short-term basis. In Boston, the coworking segment of the commercial real estate market incorporates about 47,405 square feet. Retail space includes shopping malls, department stores, street retail, or specialty stores dedicated to a narrow range of products. Such properties are typically located in high foot-traffic and/or car traffic areas, to facilitate customer access. The Boston commercial real estate market includes 6,054,626 square feet of retail space in a variety of settings. Industrial property most often serves businesses operating in manufacturing or logistics and generally consists of large open spaces located within good access to roads, railways, freight airports or regional water ports. Industrial space listings can include warehouses, manufacturing plants, distribution centers, flexible industrial space, or even data center facilities. Across the Boston market, there is a total of 7,401,042 square feet of industrial property.

What types of commercial real estate are available in Boston, MA?

The largest share of commercial real estate space for lease in Boston is represented by Office space , which accounts for 8,436,100 square feet of available listings. Industrial space available in Boston adds up to 589,915 square feet.

What factors affect the price of commercial real estate in Boston, MA?

The price of renting or buying commercial real estate is influenced by a variety of factors, including: the property type (for example, office space is priced higher than other property types in most locations); the condition and asset class rating (property rated class A or above will typically command a higher price than lower grade classifications); the quality or the development potential of the property location; whether or not there is high demand for the type of commercial asset in question; and what the state of supply is relative to demand.

What is the average rent for commercial space in Boston, MA?

The average rent for commercial real estate space listed for lease in Boston is $44.99 per square foot. However, this value does not offer enough perspective on its own, as you will find significant variation in prices across property types, property classes, and location, as well as other impacting factors. For instance, rent per square foot of office space in Boston can vary greatly depending on the rating of the property from Class A to Class C, as well as across the city depending on the location of the asset.

What are the best areas for commercial real estate in Boston, MA?

The best choice of location for commercial space depends on the factors that are most relevant to your business. A good thing to look for at the start, however, is the areas of the city that have the highest concentration of your preferred type of property, as these areas are generally well connected to the amenities and points of interest that are most relevant to each property type. As such, there are several areas that you could consider to be the best location for commercial real estate in Boston, depending on the property type you are interested in. The highest concentration of commercial space listings of any kind in Boston is in the Downtown - Financial District neighborhood. But if we look at each commercial property type, we find that for office space, the best location is the Downtown - Financial District area . Meanwhile, retail space opportunities are most abundant in the Back Bay submarket. Alternatively, if you are looking for warehouse or other industrial space, consider looking at listings in East Boston . Select your preferred property type from the search filters menu at the top of the search page and then navigate the interactive map for a better view of commercial real estate availability in the locations most suited to your needs.

How do I find a good commercial real estate broker?

Whether or not leasing commercial space is a new experience for you, there are significant benefits to working with a commercial real estate broker . In addition to saving you time and money, an experienced broker will contribute specialist knowledge of the local market , the property type you need representation for, and will handle negotiations on your behalf in your best interest. To start, it is important for you to have a good understanding of what kind of broker you need. For instance, there are differences between a tenant broker and a listing broker . Also important at the start is to have a clear idea of what kind of space (or tenant) you are looking for and what (if any) particular needs and requirements you might have. And, while it is good to get a referral, you should interview several brokers to better gauge who you feel would best represent your interests. CommercialCafe hosts listings from some of the most trusted commercial real estate brokerages in the country. Use the contact form available on each listing page or the contact details for the property representatives to reach out and start your search!

What is the most profitable commercial real estate?

The profitability of a commercial real estate investment depends on a multitude of factors working together. These factors include the quality of the asset itself — which itself includes aspects such as location, property class, amenities, and the quality of the property management — to the local market conditions, the state of the local economy, the demand for that particular type of commercial property, and of course the costs of owning and maintaining it relative to what leasing rate or sale price you get from the property. Asking rents in the city went as high as $81 per square foot. In particular, the property type commanding the highest lease rates in Boston was Office space. Conversely, the highest sale price last year was $148,000,000 that is located at 535 Boylston Street.

What is the average size of a commercial property in Boston, MA?

The average size of a commercial property in Boston depends greatly on the property type and the location — geographical possibilities and zoning allowances have significant influence on how big developers can build. While there are outliers that break height or volume records in the city, we can look at some average sizes by property use: In Boston, the average size of an office property is 231,869 square feet. Retail properties here incorporate an average of 53,111 square feet. Industrial space in Boston is in buildings that are, on average 164,468 square feet in size.

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846 Commercial Real Estate Listings in Boston, MA

CRE Market Stats

Federal Street
Regus
101 Federal Street Suite 1900, Boston, MA
Services

Virtual Office

Open Workspace

Private Office

Dedicated Desk
Amenities

24/7 security

Access to global network

Business lounge

Cleaning services

Complimentary coffee & tea

High-speed internet

High-speed wifi

Kitchen

Mail services

Money-back guarantee
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47 Winter Street

47 Winter Street , Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

$30.00/SF/YR
Property

Office

18,000 SF
Availability

1 Space

2,000 SF
Year Built

1899
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100 High Street

100 High Street, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

546,336 SF
Availability

1 Space

18,229 SF
Year Built

1988
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Park Square Building

31 Saint James Avenue, Back Bay, Boston, MA
For Lease

$54.00 - $60.00/SF/YR
Property

Office

420,000 SF
Availability

1 Space

26,077 SF
Year Built

1922
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77 North Washington Street

77 North Washington Street, North End Boston, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

121,635 SF
Availability

1 Space

13,889 SF
Year Built

1920
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One Liberty Square

1 Liberty Square, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

157,467 SF
Availability

1 Space

8,168 SF
Year Built

1926
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280 Summer St., Boston, MA

280 Summer Street, South Boston, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

127,783 SF
Availability

1 Space

6,312 SF
Year Built

1900
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311 Summer Street

311 Summer Street, South Boston, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

60,000 SF
Availability

1 Space

42,442 SF
Year Built

1911
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28 State Street

28 State Street, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

570,040 SF
Availability

11 Spaces

139,770 SF
Year Built

1968
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33 Arch Street
WeWork
33 Arch Street 15th-19th Floor, Boston, MA
Services

Open Workspace

Event Space

Meeting Room

Private Office

Dedicated Desk
Amenities

Bike storage

Cleaning services

Game room

High-speed wifi

IT support

Kitchen

Mother’s room

Parking

Printer

Privacy booths
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One Beacon Street

1 Beacon Street, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

$70.00/SF/YR
Property

Office

1,017,998 SF
Availability

1 Space

12,755 SF
Year Built

1973
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10 Post Office Square

10 Post Office Square, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

451,947 SF
Availability

1 Space

8,286 SF
Year Built

1920
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One Washington

1 Washington Street, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

161,173 SF
Availability

2 Spaces

16,207 SF
Year Built

1971
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One Financial Center

One Financial Center, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

85,404 SF
Availability

3 Spaces
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20 Park Plaza

20 Park Plaza, Bay Village, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Mixed Use

260,000 SF
Availability

7 Spaces

36,575 SF
Year Built

1927
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10 St. James Avenue & 75 Arlington Street

75 Arlington Street, Back Bay, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

824,772 SF
Availability

2 Spaces

51,000 SF
Year Built

1913
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7 Bulfinch Place

7 Bulfinch Place, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

83,292 SF
Availability

1 Space

17,000 SF
Year Built

1970
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67 Old Harbor Street

67 Old Harbor Street , South Boston, MA
For Sale

Subject To Offer
Property

Multi-Family

3,780 SF
Year Built

1910
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205 Portland St

205 Portland St , West End Boston, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

43,505 SF
Availability

1 Space

3,369 SF
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Pledge of Allegiance Building

142 Berkeley Street, Back Bay, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

125,000 SF
Availability

2 Spaces

33,025 SF
Year Built

1892
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912 Beacon Street

912 Beacon Street, Fenway - Kenmore, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Retail

1,000 SF
Availability

1 Space

1,000 SF
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418 Tremont Street

418 Tremont Street, South End Boston, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Retail

43,078 SF
Availability

1 Space

998 SF
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70 Franklin Street

70 Franklin Street, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

85,212 SF
Availability

2 Spaces

23,175 SF
Year Built

1894
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101 Federal Street

101 Federal Street, Downtown - Financial District, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

561,542 SF
Availability

2 Spaces

33,611 SF
Year Built

1987
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226 Causeway Street

226 Causeway Street, North End Boston, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

225,000 SF
Availability

1 Space

26,539 SF
Year Built

1907
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500 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA

500 Harrison Avenue, South End Boston, Boston, MA
For Lease

Contact for pricing
Property

Office

150,000 SF
Availability

1 Space

23,134 SF
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Building Size Range	Total Square Feet	Share of Total Office
50k to 100k Sq. Ft.	8,890,825 Sq. Ft.	6.88%
100k to 500k Sq. Ft.	55,389,132 Sq. Ft.	42.84%
500k to 1M Sq. Ft.	40,714,997 Sq. Ft.	31.49%
> 1M Sq. Ft.	20,313,836 Sq. Ft.	15.71%

Class	Total Square Feet	Share of Total Office
Class A+	21,110,935 Sq. Ft.	16.33%
Class A	55,425,130 Sq. Ft.	42.87%
Class B	23,965,523 Sq. Ft.	18.53%
Class C	1,298,222 Sq. Ft.	1%

Building Size Range	Total Square Feet	Share of Total Industrial
50k to 100k Sq. Ft.	1,975,024 Sq. Ft.	20.11%
100k to 500k Sq. Ft.	4,328,683 Sq. Ft.	44.07%
> 1M Sq. Ft.	1,650,000 Sq. Ft.	16.8%

Class	Total Square Feet	Share of Total Industrial
Class A	925,000 Sq. Ft.	9.42%
Class B	5,199,291 Sq. Ft.	52.93%
Class C	2,891,960 Sq. Ft.	29.44%

Building Size Range	Total Square Feet	Share of Total Retail
50k to 100k Sq. Ft.	1,370,920 Sq. Ft.	50.59%
100k to 500k Sq. Ft.	1,338,825 Sq. Ft.	49.41%

City	Property Type	Count of Listings	Total SF
Boston, MA	Office	264	8,436,100
Boston, MA	Retail	97	473,959
Boston, MA	Industrial	18	589,915
Boston, MA	Other	387	9,994,287

846 Commercial Real Estate Listings in Boston, MA

Boston, MA Commercial Real Estate Market Overview

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the different types of commercial real estate?

What types of commercial real estate are available in Boston, MA?

What factors affect the price of commercial real estate in Boston, MA?

What is the average rent for commercial space in Boston, MA?

What are the best areas for commercial real estate in Boston, MA?

How do I find a good commercial real estate broker?

What is the most profitable commercial real estate?

What is the average size of a commercial property in Boston, MA?

Boston, MA Commercial Real Estate Inventory Breakdown

Total Office Space in Boston: 129,299,952 Sq. Ft.

Total Industrial Space in Boston: 9,823,280 Sq. Ft.

Total Retail Space in Boston: 2,709,745 Sq. Ft.

Boston, MA Currently Available Listings

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