How do I calculate monthly rent from a price per square foot?

Multiply the square footage by the monthly rate per square foot. If the rate is quoted per year, divide by 12. For example, 2,585 square feet at $1.15 per square foot per month is $2,972.75 per month in base rent.

In a NNN, or triple net, lease the tenant pays base rent plus a share of three property costs: property taxes, building insurance, and common area maintenance. Those costs are usually billed monthly as an estimate and trued up against actual costs.

Is a rent of $1.15 PSF quoted per month or per year?

In California, commercial rent is usually quoted per square foot per month, so $1.15 PSF means $1.15 per square foot each month, or $13.80 per square foot per year. Many other markets quote annual rates, so always confirm which one a listing uses.

NNN Lease Calculator: Monthly Rent, NNN Charges & Total Cost

Your Lease

Prefilled with our available space: 2,585 SF at $1.15 per SF per month. Change any number.

Square feet

Base rent

California listings usually quote the monthly rate.

NNN charges

Taxes, insurance, and common area costs, per SF per month. Leave blank to see base rent only.

Annual increase on base rent (%)

Lease term (years)

Total monthly cost, year 1

$2,972.75

Base rent only. NNN charges aren't included until you enter the landlord's estimate.

Base rent per month$2,972.75

NNN charges per monthNot entered

Total for year 1$35,673

Base rate per SF per year$13.80

All-in rate, base plus NNN$1.15 / SF / mo

Total over 3 years$107,019

Year by Year

Year	Base rent / month	NNN / month	Total / month	Total for the year
1	$2,972.75	-	$2,972.75	$35,673
2	$2,972.75	-	$2,972.75	$35,673
3	$2,972.75	-	$2,972.75	$35,673

Increases are applied to base rent on each anniversary. NNN charges are held at the estimate you enter. In a real lease they move with actual taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. This is an estimate, not a quote.

How the Math Works

Commercial rent is quoted as a rate per square foot. To get a monthly number, multiply the rate by the size of the space.

Base rent per month is square feet times the monthly rate. 2,585 SF at $1.15 is $2,972.75.
NNN charges per month are square feet times the NNN rate.
Total monthly cost is the two added together.

Monthly or Annual? Read the Quote Carefully

In California, landlords usually quote rent per square foot per month. In many other markets the same number means per year. "$1.15 PSF" in Palm Desert is $1.15 per square foot every month, which is $13.80 per square foot per year. Mixing the two up changes the answer by a factor of twelve, so confirm which one a listing uses.

What NNN Charges Cover

NNN stands for triple net. On top of base rent, the tenant pays a share of three things:

Property taxes on the building and land.
Insurance the owner carries on the building.
Common area maintenance, often called CAM: parking lot, landscaping, exterior lighting, and other shared costs.

NNN charges are usually billed monthly as an estimate and trued up against actual costs once a year. Every lease defines them a little differently, so read that section closely.

Questions to Ask Before You Sign

What is the current NNN estimate per square foot, and what was it last year?
Exactly which costs are included, and is there a cap on yearly increases?
How and when are estimates reconciled against actual costs?
Who maintains and replaces the HVAC, the roof, and the parking lot?
How much does base rent go up each year?
Which utilities are separately metered, and which are shared?

We have a 2,585 SF creative office and showroom space available at 42650 Melanie Place in Palm Desert for $1.15 PSF per month, NNN. See the space or ask us for the current NNN estimate.

Check the Zoning Too

Rent only matters if your business is allowed in the space. Look up any use in Palm Desert's commercial and industrial zones.

Open the Zoning Lookup View Available Space