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.

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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.