NAICS 493110 Quarterly Industry Report
General Warehousing and Storage
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 493110Sector: 49Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This NAICS 493110 industry profile draws from Census Bureau[5] establishment and employment surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] wage and employment data for warehousing occupations, and SBA[7] size standard thresholds. Fair Market Value updates this report quarterly, monitoring industrial real estate vacancy rates, warehouse construction trends, and e-commerce fulfillment demand. Our research team tracks FRED employment data[8] to provide NAICS 493110 valuation professionals with current workforce and capacity benchmarks.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the general warehousing and storage industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
General Warehousing and Storage (NAICS 493110) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in operating merchandise warehousing and storage facilities. These establishments handle goods in containers such as boxes, barrels, and drums, using equipment including forklifts, pallets, and racks. They are not specialized in handling bulk products of any particular type, size, or quantity, distinguishing them from refrigerated, farm product, and specialized warehousing operations.
Census Bureau data[5] shows approximately 6,459 businesses in this industry employing over 1,074,000 workers with annual payroll exceeding $51 billion. This makes general warehousing one of the largest employers within the Transportation and Warehousing sector. E-commerce fulfillment has dramatically expanded the industry over the past decade, with third-party logistics (3PL) providers operating massive distribution centers for online retailers and omnichannel merchants.
Revenue models include per-pallet storage fees, order fulfillment charges, value-added services (labeling, kitting, returns processing), and long-term lease arrangements. Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] data shows average hourly wages around $24 for warehouse workers, with labor availability representing a persistent operational challenge. Automation investment in robotics, conveyor systems, and warehouse management software continues to accelerate. Geographic distribution follows population centers and transportation corridors, with major clusters near interstate highway interchanges, rail intermodal terminals, and seaport complexes where inbound and outbound freight volumes are highest.
What's Included in This Industry
- Operating general merchandise warehouse and distribution center facilities
- Third-party logistics storage and inventory management services
- E-commerce order fulfillment and pick-pack-ship operations
- Cross-docking and transloading services for freight consolidation
- Pallet storage and rack-based inventory warehousing
- Value-added services including labeling, kitting, and light assembly
- Returns processing and reverse logistics warehouse operations
- Bonded and foreign trade zone warehousing for imported goods
- Document and records storage in secure warehouse facilities
- Overflow and seasonal inventory storage for manufacturers and retailers
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Warehousing and Storage | 493 |
| Industry Group | Warehousing and Storage | 4931 |
| NAICS Industry | General Warehousing and Storage | 49311 |
| National Industry | General Warehousing and Storage | 493110 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 493120 | Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage | Refrigerated warehousing facilities that store temperature-controlled products, distinguished from general merchandise storage that operates at ambient conditions |
| 493130 | Farm Product Warehousing and Storage | Farm product warehousing and storage establishments handling agricultural commodities that require specialized grain elevators and bulk storage infrastructure |
| 493190 | Other Warehousing and Storage | Other warehousing and storage facilities including miniwarehouses and self-storage units that serve individual and small business storage needs rather than commercial logistics |
| 488510 | Freight Transportation Arrangement | Freight transportation arrangement firms that coordinate cargo logistics and use warehouse facilities for shipment staging, consolidation, and cross-docking operations |
| 484110 | General Freight Trucking, Local | Local general freight trucking carriers that transport goods between warehouses and final delivery points, forming the outbound leg of distribution center operations |
| 492110 | Couriers and Express Delivery Services | Courier and express delivery services that pick up fulfilled orders from warehouse facilities for rapid last-mile delivery to residential and commercial recipients |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 13.5% | 2,087 |
| 2 | Texas | 8.9% | 1,379 |
| 3 | Georgia | 4.9% | 757 |
| 4 | Ohio | 4.8% | 746 |
| 5 | Florida | 4.8% | 739 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 4.7% | 717 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | 4.5% | 700 |
| 8 | Illinois | 4.5% | 699 |
| 9 | New York | 3.2% | 494 |
| 10 | Tennessee | 3.0% | 460 |
% Of Establishments
0%
14%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
416
Total SBA Loans
$276.6M
Total Loan Volume
$665K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.22%
Average Interest Rate
4,896
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Under SBA size standards[7], NAICS 493110 businesses qualify as small with average annual receipts up to $34 million. Warehousing firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[9] for equipment purchases, technology upgrades, and working capital. The 504 loan program[10] supports acquisition of warehouse real estate, racking systems, and material handling equipment. Given the capital-intensive nature of warehouse facilities, SBA real estate financing is especially relevant for independent operators competing against large national 3PL providers.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Univest Bank and Trust Co | 8 | $30.0M | $3.8M |
| 2 | Regions Bank | 24 | $26.2M | $1.1M |
| 3 | Bank Five Nine | 16 | $25.6M | $1.6M |
| 4 | CalPrivate Bank | 16 | $24.7M | $1.5M |
| 5 | Cathay Bank | 8 | $20.4M | $2.5M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 493110?
Distribution centers, third-party logistics warehouses, e-commerce fulfillment centers, public warehouses, bonded and foreign trade zone facilities, and document storage operators are classified under NAICS 493110. Refrigerated warehousing falls under NAICS 493120[11], and self-storage under NAICS 493190.
How is NAICS 493110 structured within the transportation sector?
NAICS 493110 is the largest code within Subsector 493 (Warehousing and Storage), alongside refrigerated (493120), farm product (493130), and other storage (493190). It captures general merchandise facilities that do not specialize in temperature-controlled, agricultural, or personal storage services.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 493110?
The SBA size standard[7] for NAICS 493110 is $34 million in average annual receipts. This revenue-based threshold determines small business eligibility for SBA lending programs and federal contracting set-asides.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 493110?
Related codes include 493120 (Refrigerated Warehousing), 493130 (Farm Product Warehousing), 493190 (Other Warehousing and Storage), 488510 (Freight Transportation Arrangement), and 484110 (General Freight Trucking, Local). These codes collectively cover the storage and distribution supply chain.
What industries drive the most demand for general warehousing?
E-commerce retailers, consumer goods manufacturers, and import distributors generate the bulk of warehousing demand. Census Bureau data[5] shows over 1 million workers in this industry, reflecting massive growth driven by online shopping fulfillment requirements.
What activities are included in NAICS 493110?
Included activities cover pallet storage, distribution center operations, e-commerce fulfillment, cross-docking, value-added services (labeling, kitting), returns processing, bonded warehousing, and document storage. Refrigerated storage is excluded per Census Bureau[12] and classified under NAICS 493120.
Are NAICS 493110 businesses eligible for SBA loans?
Where are NAICS 493110 businesses geographically concentrated?
Warehousing clusters near major population centers and transportation hubs. Inland Empire (CA), northern New Jersey, Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth, and Chicago's I-80 corridor have the highest concentrations per Census Bureau[13] establishment data. FRED employment data[8] confirms these regions lead in warehouse workforce growth.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]Census Bureau data data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA sba.gov
- [8]FRED employment data fred.stlouisfed.org
- [9]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [10]504 loan program sba.gov
- [11]NAICS 493120 census.gov
- [12]Census Bureau census.gov
- [13]Census Bureau data.census.gov
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