Free Tenant Improvement Allowance Calculator

Calculate the tenant improvement (TI) allowance for a commercial lease, determine the out-of-pocket cost to the tenant, and analyze how the TI amortizes over the lease term.

sq ft
USD
USD
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Total TI Allowance

$225,000

Total Estimated Buildout$325,000
Tenant Out-of-Pocket$100,000
Allowance Coverage69.2%
Landlord Monthly TI Amortization$3,506.90
Total Amortized Cost to Landlord$294,579

Total TI Allowance vs Lease Term (years)

Tenant Improvement Allowances

A tenant improvement (TI) allowance is money the landlord provides to the tenant for customizing or building out the leased space. It is a standard incentive in commercial leasing.

How TI Allowances Work

1. The landlord offers a dollar-per-square-foot allowance 2. The tenant designs and constructs improvements to suit their needs 3. Costs within the allowance are covered by the landlord 4. Costs exceeding the allowance are paid by the tenant 5. The landlord amortizes the TI cost over the lease term as part of the return calculation

Typical TI Ranges

  • Office (new build): $40-$80 per sq ft
  • Office (refresh): $15-$35 per sq ft
  • Retail: $20-$50 per sq ft
  • Industrial: $5-$15 per sq ft
  • Negotiation Tips

  • Longer lease terms justify higher TI allowances
  • Strong-credit tenants get better TI packages
  • TI is essentially a loan baked into the rent, not free money
  • Example Calculation

    5,000 sq ft space with $45/sq ft TI allowance, estimated $65/sq ft buildout cost, 7-year lease, 8% landlord amortization rate.

    1. 01Total TI allowance: 5,000 x $45 = $225,000
    2. 02Total buildout cost: 5,000 x $65 = $325,000
    3. 03Tenant out-of-pocket: $325,000 - $225,000 = $100,000
    4. 04Allowance coverage: $225,000 / $325,000 = 69.2%
    5. 05Monthly amortization: approximately $3,493 (at 8% over 84 months)
    6. 06Total amortized cost: $3,493 x 84 = $293,412

    Frequently Asked Questions

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