Logistics location Frankfurt am Main

Frankfurt am Main, in the Rhine-Main logistics region, is one of the most important logistics locations in Germany.

Which district offers the best connections for your urban logistics? What prices per square metre do companies currently have to calculate when renting a modern warehouse in Frankfurt am Main? And how does flexible contract logistics in Frankfurt am Main secure your supply chains against global disruptions?

If you want to expand in the heart of Europe or optimize your distribution networks, you can't avoid Frankfurt am Main as a logistics location. The region combines continental traffic flows with global reach. Learn everything about prices, infrastructure advantages and free capacities in this well-founded location analysis.

Economic importance and development of Frankfurt am Main as a logistics location

The economic area of Frankfurt am Main is considered one of the most productive and dynamic economic centres in Europe. While the city is world-famous as a financial centre and the headquarters of the European Central Bank (ECB), logistics forms the fundamental backbone of this economic performance. The continuous development of industry, e-commerce and international trade in goods is driving the demand for flexible hall capacities incessantly.

• Economic structure: Frankfurt am Main has an extremely high density of research-intensive sectors such as the chemical and pharmaceutical industries, mechanical engineering and information and telecommunications technology. These industries depend on seamless, high-frequency supply and disposal.
• Development trend: Due to the ongoing boom in online retail and the trend towards resilient warehousing ("just-in-case" instead of "just-in-time"), the demand for modern logistics real estate in Frankfurt am Main has risen rapidly in recent years. In particular, the demand for urban logistics space for the proverbial "last mile" in the urban area has triggered a new market dynamic.
• Sustainable status: As a central European hub, Frankfurt continuously attracts international investors and project developers. This secures the location a leading position in a European comparison and makes it essential for companies to secure strategic land reserves at an early stage.

Infrastructure and accessibility: the heart of Europe's transport networks

The outstanding strength of the Frankfurt am Main metropolitan region lies in its unsurpassed infrastructural networking. All four modes of transport – road, rail, water and air – operate at the highest international level and enable highly efficient transport chains.

• Road connection: The Frankfurter Kreuz is the busiest road junction in Germany. The A3 (Netherlands–Austria) and A5 (Switzerland–Northern Germany) motorways intersect here. In addition, the A661 and the B40 and B43 federal roads connect the city area perfectly to the outer logistics ring. This guarantees truck transports excellent accessibility of all German and European conurbations within the shortest possible driving times.
• Rail connections: Frankfurt has a dense rail network for rail freight transport. Frankfurt's main railway station and specialised container stations in the surrounding area ensure that heavy freight flows can be handled in an ecologically and economically sensible way in combined freight transport (KLV). Regular direct connections link the region with the German seaports and the economic centres in Eastern and Southern Europe.
• Waterways: Frankfurt is directly connected to the Rhine-Main-Danube federal waterway via the Main. Frankfurt's Osthafen and Gutleuthafen allow bulk cargo, project cargoes and containers to be handled by inland waterway vessels. This opens up access for companies to the North Sea ports of Rotterdam, Antwerp and Amsterdam as well as to the Black Sea region.
• Air freight hub: Frankfurt am Main Airport (FRA / CargoCity South and North) is one of the largest cargo airports in the world and the undisputed number one in European continental traffic. For time-critical goods, high-tech components, automotive spare parts and temperature-sensitive pharmaceutical products, the proximity to the airport offers an invaluable competitive advantage.

Focus on trimodal and bimodal modality

• Trimodality: In the Frankfurt area, trimodal logistics – the seamless linking of road, rail and waterway – has been perfectly implemented. Freight transport centres and port facilities in particular make it possible to change modes of transport flexibly depending on capacity utilisation, cost structure and CO₂ requirements.
• Bimodal hubs: Away from the waterways, bimodal locations dominate, which use the combination of rail connection and direct motorway connection. For contract logistics companies and e-commerce service providers, this bimodal flexibility forms the foundation for extremely short throughput times in incoming and outgoing goods.

Logistics hotspots and freight transport centres in the Frankfurt area

If you want to rent a storage space in Frankfurt am Main, you need to know the regional hotspots. The areas are divided into inner-city industrial areas and large-scale logistics clusters in the immediate vicinity.

• Frankfurt-Fechenheim & Osthafen: These areas in the east of the city are characterized by their immediate proximity to the city center and the trimodal connection via the port. Here, the focus is primarily on inner-city commercial halls and transshipment warehouses that are used for urban distribution.
• CargoCity Süd (airport): The absolute hotspot for air freight forwarders, pharmaceutical logistics companies and international express services. The areas directly on the airport grounds are highly specialized, offer direct access to the apron and meet the strictest security and customs requirements.
• Frankfurt-Griesheim & Höchst: In the western part of the city, which is characterized by the Höchst Industrial Park, there are highly specialized hall complexes. These are ideal for companies in the chemical, pharmaceutical and life sciences industries that have to meet strict legal requirements (e.g. storage of dangerous goods according to the Seveso III Directive or GDP compliance).
• Umland-Cluster (GVZ Frankfurt-West / Region Groß-Gerau / Hanau): Since space directly in the central districts of Frankfurt is very limited, high-performance freight transport centres (GVZ) and logistics parks have been established in the surrounding area. Locations such as Dietzenbach, Neu-Isenburg, Rodgau or the Mönchhof site in Kelsterbach offer large-volume big-box logistics halls for national distribution centers.

Rental prices, land costs and economic key figures

Frankfurt's logistics market is characterised by a structural supply deficit combined with high demand. This is reflected in the development of prime and average rents.

Market values for logistics properties in the Frankfurt am Main area (guideline values 2025/2026)

Source: Own market research based on common real estate reports for the Rhine-Main metropolitan region.

• Factors influencing prices: The rental prices for a warehouse in Frankfurt am Main depend heavily on the technical equipment. ESG-compliant new buildings with solar systems (photovoltaics) on the roof, modern LED light strips, a high floor load capacity (at least 5 to 7 tonnes per square metre) and a sufficient number of dock levellers achieve significant premiums on the market.
• Land costs: Free, ready-to-build logistics plots in the immediate city area are an absolute rarity. Project developers are therefore increasingly switching to brownfield developments – i.e. to the revitalisation of former industrial wastelands.

Contract logistics in Frankfurt am Main: Services, prices and added value

For many companies, simply renting hall space is only the first step. In order to react flexibly to market fluctuations, industry and trade are increasingly relying on professional contract logistics in Frankfurt am Main. In this case, an external logistics service provider takes on complex service packages on a long-term basis.

• Range of services: The range of services offered by the Frankfurt-based contract logistics company extends far beyond pure storage. It includes value-added services such as picking, packing, labelling, quality control, display construction and returns management. Highly specialized services such as the temperature-controlled storage of vaccines or the handling of dangerous goods (WGK classes) are also available throughout the site.
• Prices and billing models: Costs in contract logistics are rarely billed as flat-rate prices per square metre. Instead, transactional models dominate. For example, billing is per occupied pallet space and week (e.g. €1.50 to €3.50 per storage space/week, depending on the temperature control) plus the expenses for storage and retrieval (in/out handling) as well as the value-added services actually used.
• Advantages: By outsourcing, companies convert fixed costs into variable costs. You don't have to conclude long-term leases for real estate and easily absorb seasonal peak times (such as the Christmas business in e-commerce) thanks to the flexible capacities of the logistics service provider.

Top companies and industry structure

The attractiveness of the location is impressively demonstrated by the list of companies based here. Frankfurt am Main acts as a magnet for global players and leading logistics groups.

• Logistics service providers: International giants such as DHL Supply Chain, DB Schenker, Kuehne + Nagel, DSV and DACHSER operate huge multi-user facilities and distribution centers in the Frankfurt area.
• Retail and e-commerce: Large retail chains and online marketplaces use the strategic location to supply the densely populated Rhine-Main region as well as the whole of southern and western Germany with consumer goods within a few hours.
• Industry and pharmaceuticals: Companies such as Sanofi in Industriepark Höchst or the numerous suppliers to the automotive plants in nearby Rüsselsheim (Opel) and Stuttgart (Daimler/Porsche) secure their global material flows via Frankfurt contract logistics companies.

Labour market and skilled labour situation in the Rhine-Main region

A decisive criterion in the choice of location is the availability of qualified personnel. The labour market in the Frankfurt area offers specific conditions, especially in the logistics segment.

• Availability: Due to the historical roots of logistics and transport in the region, there is a large pool of experienced specialists – from warehouse logistics specialists to dispatchers and highly specialized supply chain managers. The proximity to renowned universities (such as Goethe University Frankfurt or Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences) also ensures a continuous supply of young academics.
• Challenges: As in all German logistics regions, there is intense competition for operational employees (e.g. forklift drivers, order pickers) in Frankfurt. Companies that  want to operate a warehouse space here in Frankfurt am Main must score points with attractive working conditions, modern ergonomic concepts in the halls and good public transport connections to the property in order to retain staff in the long term.

The future of logistics in Frankfurt am Main: automation, sustainability and ESG

Frankfurt's logistics real estate market is undergoing a profound transformation. In view of scarce space and strict climate protection requirements, future-oriented hall operators are relying on innovative concepts.

• Automation: In order to make optimal use of space and counteract the shortage of skilled workers, the proportion of automated systems is increasing. Modern high-bay warehouses, automated small parts warehouses (AS/RS) and the use of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) are increasingly standard in new halls in the Frankfurt area.
• Sustainability and ESG: The criteria for environmental, social and responsible corporate governance (ESG) determine every new development today. Investors hardly finance logistics properties that do not have at least one DGNB certificate in gold or platinum. Roofs will be equipped with photovoltaic systems over a large area in order to cover the electricity requirements of intralogistics and heat pumps autonomously. In addition, green facades and e-charging stations for trucks and cars are rapidly gaining in importance.

Location comparison: Frankfurt am Main in a national and European context

How does Frankfurt fare in direct comparison with other leading logistics regions?

National comparison (e.g. Hamburg, Munich, Ruhr area)

• Munich:Munich has even higher rents and land prices, but acts primarily as a regional hub for southern Germany and the Alpine region. Frankfurt, on the other hand, scores with its absolutely central location, from which the whole of Germany can be covered.
• Hamburg:Hamburg dominates maritime logistics with the third largest seaport in Europe. Frankfurt is countering this in the area of air freight and continental distribution via rail and road.
• Ruhr area: The Ruhr area offers larger contiguous space structures at mostly lower rents, but is dependent on Frankfurt for global air freight connections.

European comparison (e.g. London, Paris, Rotterdam)

On a European scale, Frankfurt am Main, together with London, Paris, Amsterdam and Milan, forms the so-called "Pentagon" of European logistics. While Rotterdam is considered the maritime gateway to Europe, Frankfurt occupies the top position as a continental hub for the global high-tech and high-value exchange of goods.

Tips for choosing a location in Frankfurt am Main

The selection of the right commercial property in the Rhine-Main area requires a precise coordination between industry requirements and location factors. Use these tried-and-tested criteria to make your decision:

• Location and hub proximity: Analyze your transport structure. If your business is primarily based on international air freight (e.g. high-tech, pharmaceuticals), a settlement in CargoCity Süd or in immediate suburbs such as Kelsterbach or Raunheim is mandatory. For national distribution networks, the cheaper and more flexible locations along the A3 towards Hanau or the A5 towards Wetterau are often sufficient.
• Anticipate space availability: The market is tight. Plan expansion steps in advance. If you expect rapid growth, ask specifically for multi-user halls in which you can flexibly book additional sections or parking spaces via contract logistics service providers.
• Use cost differences strategically: Don't blindly accept the inner-city top rents if your logistics chains are not necessarily dependent on a 15-minute connection to Frankfurt city center. By switching to the extended logistics ring (e.g. Aschaffenburg or Gießen region), rental costs per square metre can be reduced by up to 30 to 40 per cent, while the motorway connection remains almost identical.
• Industry-specific hall requirements: E-commerce companies need halls with a high number of dock doors for sprinters and trucks, as well as sufficient mezzanine space for picking and returns management. Food retailers and pharmaceutical companies must pay attention to temperature-controlled sections (cold storage/deep-freeze warehouse) with complete temperature monitoring. Make sure that the property offered meets these technical specifications without expensive retrofits.

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