Top 20 UK Commercial Property Owners by Physical Footprint (2025)
Amazon tops the UK’s largest commercial property footprint in 2025 with 911k sq m. See the top 20 companies ranked by floor space from Doorda data.
Amazon leads with nearly 1 million square metres of commercial property floor space across UK operations
Data Source: Doorda Commercial Property Database
Executive Summary
New analysis of UK commercial property data reveals Amazon as the largest occupier of commercial floor space, with 911,488 square metres across its UK logistics and office portfolio. The data shows how e-commerce giants now outpace traditional retailers in physical footprint, reflecting the shift from high-street retail to distribution-led operations.
Key Findings
- Amazon dominates with 911,488 sq m of commercial floor space
- Tesco ranks #2 with 786,310 sq m across supermarkets and distribution centres
- Royal Mail occupies 645,632 sq m, reflecting nationwide postal infrastructure
- German discounters Lidl (557k sq m) and Aldi (524k sq m) show rapid expansion
- Home-improvement chains (Howdens, IKEA, Wickes) occupy large-format warehouse space
Top 20 Commercial Property Owners by Floor Space (Square Metres)
| Rank | Company | Total Floor Space (sq m) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amazon UK Services Ltd | 911,488 |
| 2 | Tesco Stores Limited | 786,310 |
| 3 | Royal Mail Group Limited | 645,632 |
| 4 | Marks and Spencer PLC | 601,569 |
| 5 | Lidl Great Britain Limited | 556,977 |
| 6 | Aldi Stores Limited | 524,310 |
| 7 | Asda Stores Limited | 490,559 |
| 8 | Amazon UK Services Limited | 458,899 |
| 9 | Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd | 444,699 |
| 10 | John Lewis PLC | 437,801 |
| 11 | Waitrose Limited | 378,418 |
| 12 | Howden Joinery Properties Limited | 365,609 |
| 13 | Iceland Foods Limited | 322,013 |
| 14 | IKEA Properties Investments Limited | 282,022 |
| 15 | B & M Retail Limited | 280,074 |
| 16 | Boots UK Limited | 272,665 |
| 17 | Wren Kitchens Limited | 257,281 |
| 18 | Wickes Building Supplies Limited | 255,663 |
| 19 | Screwfix Direct Limited | 247,592 |
| 20 | DHL Supply Chain Limited | 233,925 |
Analysis & Implications
E-commerce Infrastructure Dominance
Amazon’s combined footprint of over 1.37 million sq m (including both Amazon entities) demonstrates the massive scale of logistics infrastructure required for UK e-commerce operations.
Supermarket Format Evolution
While Tesco ranks #2 by footprint, the 125,000 sq m gap shows how traditional retailers are optimising for smaller urban formats while Amazon scales for regional distribution.
Logistics & Supply-Chain Growth
Royal Mail (#3) and DHL (#20) highlight the critical importance of last-mile delivery infrastructure, with Royal Mail’s footprint spanning sorting offices and delivery depots nationwide.
Home-Improvement Warehouse Strategy
Howdens (#12), IKEA (#14) and Wickes (#18) all occupy large-format warehouse-style properties, reflecting the shift from high-street retail to out-of-town retail parks.
Methodology
Data compiled from the Doorda Property Database, analysing total commercial floor space (business_rates_size) across all properties in England and Wales. Floor space represents the total internal area of commercial properties as officially assessed for business-rates purposes.
FAQ
Q: What does floor space include?
A: Total internal commercial floor area including retail space, warehouses, offices and ancillary areas as officially measured for business rates.
Q: Which company has the largest single commercial property?
A: While this analysis covers total portfolio size, Amazon’s largest single sites include fulfilment centres in Dunfermline (93,000 sq m) and Tilbury (65,000 sq m).
Q: How does this compare to retail floor space?
A: Traditional retail now accounts for a smaller share of total commercial floor space, with logistics and distribution facilities growing rapidly.
Q: How often is this data updated?
A: Floor-space assessments are updated continuously as new properties are built or existing ones are modified, with major revaluations every five years.