Tacoma generally offers more "Big Box" space and more competitive rental rates, making it ideal for high-volume storage. Seattle (specifically the SoDo and Kent Valley areas) is superior for "last-mile" distribution and high-value tech/CPG due to its closer proximity to the urban core and Sea-Tac Airport.

Seattle remains a premium market. In early 2026, typical NNN (Triple Net) rates for warehouse space range from $14.00 to $19.00 per square foot annually. In contrast, Tacoma and the South Sound offer a mid-tier range of $10.00 to $16.00.

With Seattle serving as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Port of Seattle and local 3PLs have invested heavily in infrastructure resiliency. While this has improved overall capacity, brands should expect temporary "event-driven" congestion in the SoDo district and near Lumen Field during the tournament summer.

Yes. Due to the proximity to Amazon’s global headquarters and multiple regional sortation centers, Seattle is a premier hub for FBA Prep. Providers like AMZ Prep and Fulfillment-Box specialize in ensuring inventory meets strict FNSKU labeling and packaging requirements before moving to the "last mile."