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How much does a shared kitchen cost in Charlotte?
Charlotte kitchens charge by the hour, by the month for a truck spot, or for a private kitchen, and the same price can include very different things. Here is what the public listings show, side by side, and what to ask before you sign.
Listing prices checked November 4, 2026. Charlotte Commissary Kitchen confirmed November 6, 2026.
Prices below come from public kitchen listings on The Kitchen Door, checked on November 4, 2026. Only Charlotte Commissary Kitchen has confirmed its prices to us directly, on November 6, 2026. Treat every other number as a starting point and confirm it with the kitchen.
At a glance
What the listings show
- Hourly kitchen time: about $20 to $40 an hour.
- Monthly spot for a food truck or trailer: from $450 a month in Gastonia to $1,100 a month in Charlotte.
- Private kitchen: one Charlotte listing shows $2,600 a month.
- Deposits: $500, or one month's rent, at the kitchens that list one.
| Kitchen | Listed price | Lease | Deposit and fees | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte Commissary Kitchen, Charlotte | $750/mo food trucks and trailers, including unlimited ice, used oil disposal, fresh water and wastewater dump. $400/mo street vendors. $30/hr hourly. | 6 months to 1 year | Deposit of one month's rent. The source listing also showed a $100 fee, which the kitchen did not mention to us. | Confirmed by the kitchen, November 6, 2026 |
| T's Commissary Kitchen, Charlotte | $1,100/mo shared prep with one cold rack, one dry rack and truck parking. $2,600/mo private kitchen. 30% off the first month, per the listing. | Month to month, 6 months, annual, 2 years or more | $499 fee listed, not explained. Deposit of one month's rent. | Listing price, not confirmed |
| Carolina Commercial Kitchen, Charlotte | $40/hr kitchen time. $700 to $1,100 for food trucks, but the listing does not say whether that is monthly. | Annual | $500 deposit | Listing price, not confirmed |
| Alternative Chef, Charlotte | $40/hr, one-time use or pay as you go. Monthly packages exist, rates not shown. | One-time use, pay as you go, month to month | Not stated | Listing price, not confirmed |
| Gaston Commissary Kitchens 1 and 2, Gastonia | $450/mo food trucks and trailers. $250/mo pushcarts. $250/mo plus $20/hr for catering and bakers, with monthly storage and refrigeration for caterers. | One-time use, month to month | Not stated | Listing price, not confirmed |
Sources: the kitchen listings on Charlotte Commissary Kitchen, T's Commissary Kitchen, Carolina Commercial Kitchen, Alternative Chef and Gaston Commissary Kitchens, checked November 4, 2026. Charlotte Commissary Kitchen also confirmed its details to us by email on November 6, 2026.
Part 1
Three ways Charlotte kitchens charge
By the hour. You pay for the time you cook. It suits caterers, bakers and trucks that need a kitchen a few times a month. Listings show $20 to $40 an hour, and some add a monthly fee on top.
By the month for a truck spot. A flat monthly rate that usually covers parking and daily servicing, sometimes with water, wastewater, ice and oil disposal. This is the common arrangement for a food truck that reports to a commissary every day.
A private kitchen. A kitchen reserved for your business, priced as a monthly rent. The one price we found is $2,600 a month.
Hourly or monthly? At Charlotte Commissary Kitchen the $750 monthly truck rate equals 25 hours at its $30 hourly rate ($750 divided by $30). If you need fewer than 25 hours of kitchen time a month, hourly may cost less, but check whether water, wastewater and ice are included before you count on it.
Part 2
Look past the headline price
Two kitchens at the same monthly price can be very different deals. Compare what each price includes:
- Water and wastewater. A truck needs to fill with fresh water and dump wastewater. Charlotte Commissary Kitchen is the only kitchen that has confirmed to us it offers both. Ask every other kitchen.
- Storage and parking. T's lists one cold rack, one dry rack and truck parking in its $1,100 rate. Gaston lists monthly storage and refrigeration for caterers.
- Deposit. Listings show a $500 deposit or one month's rent.
- Extra fees. T's lists a $499 fee and does not say what it covers. Ask what any fee pays for and whether it is one-time.
- Lease length. Terms run from pay as you go to annual or longer. A longer lease may cost less per month, but it ties you in.
Part 3
Kitchens that do not publish a price
Several kitchens in our directory list no price: The City Kitch University and The City Kitch West End (both with pay as you go through multi-year terms), Charter 1 Kitchen, Sweet Spot Kitchen and Brookshire Commissary Kitchen Rental. Ask them for a written quote that spells out what is included. You can browse them all, with terms and equipment, in the kitchen directory.
Part 4
Questions to ask before you sign
- What is the total monthly cost, with every fee?
- What is the deposit, and when do I get it back?
- Are water, wastewater, ice, storage and parking included?
- Will you sign the commissary approval form Mecklenburg County asks for? See our guide to commissary kitchen requirements.
- What are the access hours, and do I need to book cooking time?
- What happens to the price if I need more hours, or fewer?
Not sure whether you need a commissary or a shared kitchen? Read commissary vs. shared vs. ghost kitchen.
FAQ
Common questions
How much does it cost to rent a commercial kitchen in Charlotte?
In the public listings we track, hourly kitchen time runs from about $20 to $40 an hour. Monthly spots for a food truck or trailer run from $450 a month in Gastonia to $1,100 a month, and one Charlotte private kitchen is listed at $2,600 a month. Several kitchens publish no price at all. Only Charlotte Commissary Kitchen has confirmed its prices to us directly.
Is it cheaper to pay by the hour or by the month?
It depends on how many hours you cook. At Charlotte Commissary Kitchen, the $750 monthly truck rate equals 25 hours at its $30 hourly rate, so a truck that needs fewer than 25 hours of kitchen time a month may pay less by the hour. The monthly rate there also includes ice, used oil disposal, fresh water and a wastewater dump, which hourly rental may not.
Do Charlotte shared kitchens charge a deposit?
Several do. Carolina Commercial Kitchen lists a $500 deposit, and T's Commissary Kitchen, Charlotte Commissary Kitchen and Charter 1 Kitchen list a deposit of one month's rent. T's also lists a $499 fee without saying what it covers.
Are these prices current?
Most come from public listings on The Kitchen Door, checked on November 4, 2026. Charlotte Commissary Kitchen confirmed its prices to us by email on November 6, 2026. Kitchens change prices without notice, so confirm the price, what it includes and any fees in writing before you commit.
Not sure which kitchen fits?
Tell us what you need and we will point you to kitchens that may fit your business, budget and timeline.
More guides
Prices come from public kitchen listings on The Kitchen Door, checked November 4, 2026, and from Charlotte Commissary Kitchen's email confirmation on November 6, 2026. Kitchens change prices and terms without notice, so confirm everything with the kitchen before you commit.
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