<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001600626-20-000031.txt : 20200117
<SEC-HEADER>0001600626-20-000031.hdr.sgml : 20200117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20200117152601
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001600626-20-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20200115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20200117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20200117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hirsch Howard S.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001630322

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-55605
		FILM NUMBER:		20533353

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GRIFFIN CAPITAL PLAZA
		STREET 2:		1520 GRAND AVENUE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001600626
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				464654479
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3104696100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1520 EAST GRAND AVENUE
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT II, Inc.
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20140220
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>wf-form4_157929274304867.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-01-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001600626</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Griffin Capital Essential Asset REIT, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>N/A</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001630322</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hirsch Howard S.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1520 EAST GRAND AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Legal Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>69519</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>137384.86</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 15, 2020, the Issuer awarded the Reporting Person 69,519 time-based Restricted Stock Units (&quot;RSUs&quot;), each of which represents a contingent right to receive one share of the Issuer's Class E Common Stock, and will vest in equal, 25% installments on each of December 31, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, provided that the Reporting Person remains continuously employed by the Issuer on each such date, subject to certain accelerated vesting provisions as provided in the award agreement for the RSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares of Class E Common Stock of the Issuer issued to the Reporting Person as a distribution pursuant to (i) the Issuer's distribution reinvestment plan and (ii) the Issuer's monthly stock distribution to all of its stockholders, neither of which is required to be reported on a Form 4.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Howard S. Hirsch</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-01-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
