Warehouse and industrial space in Fort Myers, FL: a market guide

Last updated: June 2026

If you are shopping for Fort Myers industrial space, here is the short version. Lee County sits in the Southwest Florida industrial market, where overall vacancy ran about 9.7% in the first quarter of 2026, up from roughly 7.2% a year earlier as new supply outpaced absorption [1]. Average asking rents held near $14.17 per square foot on a triple-net basis, with flex space closer to $16.50 [1]. The demand story is concentrated along the Alico Road corridor in south Fort Myers, which functions as the area's logistics spine because it connects directly to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and Interstate 75 [2]. For tenants and investors, the practical takeaway is that this is currently a higher-choice market: more standing inventory and longer lease-up timelines on new builds give occupiers more negotiating room than they had a couple of years ago.

This guide walks through where the inventory is, what the current numbers mean for pricing, and how to underwrite a warehouse or flex purchase or lease in Lee County.

Where Fort Myers industrial inventory sits

Fort Myers carries the bulk of the regional industrial base. Of roughly 49.6 million square feet of inventory across Southwest Florida, Fort Myers accounts for nearly 30 million square feet [1]. That scale matters because it means most active warehouse and distribution product, and most of the new construction, is concentrated here rather than spread thin across smaller submarkets.

A few corridors do most of the work:

• Alico Road corridor. The center of gravity for Lee County logistics. It runs to Southwest Florida International Airport and ties into I-75, and Lee County has projected that roughly one in three county jobs will eventually sit in the Alico corridor [2]. National distribution users, including Amazon, operate large facilities in this area [2]. Expect Class A bulk distribution, higher clear heights, and the most competition for well-located sites.
• North Fort Myers and the US-41 area. Generally more value-oriented product, with access north into Charlotte County. Useful for users who want lower rent per foot and do not need airport adjacency.
• Metro Parkway area. A mix of light-industrial and flex space that tends to serve local contractors, trades, and service businesses rather than regional distribution.

What the current market means for pricing

The headline for 2025 and early 2026 is supply. The region absorbed a large wave of new construction, with roughly 2.4 million square feet delivered in 2025, and that pushed vacancy up even though underlying demand stayed positive [1]. Net absorption swung back to positive territory, about 115,777 square feet, in the first quarter of 2026 after a soft prior quarter [1].

For a buyer or tenant, rising vacancy with flat-to-modest rent growth is a workable setup. It usually means more concessions on new product, more time to do diligence, and less pressure to overpay to win a building. It also means underwriting should be conservative on rent growth. Do not assume the double-digit annual increases some operators penciled in during the 2021 to 2022 cycle. Asking rents near $14 per square foot triple-net for standard distribution and around $16.50 for flex are reasonable anchors to start from, then adjust for clear height, loading, and location [1].

If you own an existing asset and want a current read on what it would trade or lease for, a listing valuation is the starting point. If you are buying, a buyer consultation is where we map your space program against what is actually available.

How to underwrite a Fort Myers warehouse

Square footage is the least interesting number on the page. The features that drive value and tenant demand are these:

• Clear height. Modern distribution is priced in cubic feet. Higher clear heights, in the 28-to-36-foot range for newer bulk product, support racking and command stronger rents than older low-bay buildings.
• Loading. Dock-high doors, grade-level ramps, or a mix determine which tenants a building can serve. A property with only grade-level loading limits your future tenant pool if you are an investor.
• Power. Three-phase power is effectively table stakes for manufacturing or automated operations. Confirm capacity early, because upgrades are slow and expensive.
• Location relative to RSW and I-75. Proximity to the airport and the interstate via the Alico corridor is the single biggest driver of last-mile and regional distribution demand in this market [2]. Pay for it only if your operation actually uses it.

Zoning and entitlement timelines also belong in your model. Lee County's development code, impact fees, and approval calendar can add real months and cost to a ground-up or change-of-use plan, so verify the path before you write it into a pro forma.

Frequently asked questions

What is the industrial vacancy rate in Fort Myers right now? The Southwest Florida industrial market, which Fort Myers anchors, ran about 9.7% vacancy in the first quarter of 2026, up from roughly 7.2% a year earlier as new construction outpaced absorption [1]. Verify the latest quarter before acting.

How much does warehouse space cost per square foot in Fort Myers? Average asking rents were near $14.17 per square foot triple-net for standard industrial space and about $16.50 for flex space in early 2026 [1]. Actual pricing varies with clear height, loading, and location.

Why is the Alico Road corridor the focus for industrial? Alico Road connects directly to Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) and I-75, which makes it the logistics spine of Lee County. The county has projected that about one in three county jobs will eventually sit in the corridor, and national users including Amazon operate there [2].

Is now a tenant's market or a landlord's market? With vacancy rising on new supply and absorption only recently turning positive, occupiers generally have more leverage than they did in 2021 to 2022 [1]. That tends to mean more concessions and longer diligence windows, though conditions vary by building and submarket.

Where can I see more local market writeups? More Southwest Florida market notes are on the blog, and common questions are answered on the FAQ.

Gabriel

Sources

1. Colliers / REBusinessOnline, Southwest Florida Industrial Market (Q1 2026 figures)
2. Gulfshore Business, The changing face of Alico Road

Gabriel A. Moyers, PA. eXp Realty. Florida License #3407280. Equal Housing Opportunity. This article is general information as of June 2026 and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify current figures against authoritative sources before acting.