KEY TAKEAWAYS
▸ Self-storage offers flexible, accessible space where you rent units monthly to store belongings with full control over access and arrangement, unlike full-service storage, where staff manages everything.
▸ Various unit types exist, including drive-up vs. indoor units, climate-controlled vs. standard units, and 24-hour access options.
▸ Storage unit sizes range from 5×5 lockers to 10×40 spaces for vehicle storage.
▸ Average U.S. storage costs $85.30 monthly across all sizes, with smaller unit sizes ranging from $39-$59 a month, though prices vary by size and location.
▸ Lower the cost of storage spaces by shopping around, timing rentals during November-March, and asking about discounts for seniors, students, or military personnel.
It’s no secret that the cost of living is on the rise. And with the square footage of the average home size steadily shrinking to compensate for the increased construction costs, it’s no secret that Americans have less room in their homes to keep their belongings than ever.
Whether you’re drowning in clothes, books, or memorabilia, self-storage lets you keep your belongings without sacrificing the roominess of your home. The good news? Our research shows that you could use self-storage for 17 years before the cumulative costs equaled the price of adding storage space to your home.
Sounds great, but just what is self-storage exactly?
This article starts with the basics.
First, we’ll explain what self-storage is. We’ll explore how and why to use self-storage, and the different sizes and storage features available.
We’ll also reveal how SpareFoot can help you find a storage unit near you that suits your needs, and how to score your first month of storage for free!
What Is Self Storage?
With self-storage, you rent extra space, typically every month, to stash your property. Unlike full-service storage facilities, where you have limited access to your property and someone else figures out how items are stored, self-storage units give you full control over what’s in your unit and how items are arranged.
The self-storage industry thrives by offering flexibility, said Diane Dozier, manager of the self-storage business AAA Alliance Self Storage in Tempe, AZ.
Rather than waiting for someone to give you access to your belongings, you can enter and exit pretty much whenever you want, Dozier said. You can also remove household goods from your self-storage unit or add new ones, as long as they fit in the space.
Why Use Self-Storage?
Here are three reasons why you might want to choose self-storage:
- You’re downsizing and need someplace to store your extra possessions.
- You’re moving temporarily and don’t want to haul your belongings with you.
- You’re a small business owner who needs a place to store inventory that you don’t use every day.
Some families may need more storage space when a child returns from college or an elderly parent moves into the home. Depending on where you live, it may be less expensive to rent a self-storage unit to keep furniture and appliances than it is to move to a larger home.
Whatever the reasons people have for embracing self-storage, the number of Americans who use self-storage facilities is growing. According to the Self Storage Association, a trade group for the self-storage industry, 10 percent of U.S. households rent self-storage units, up from 6 percent in 1995.
Types of Self-Storage Units
While you might have a certain picture of what a storage unit is in your mind, remember that there are a few different types of self-storage units, as well as a range of storage unit sizes to consider.
Indoor Storage Units vs. Drive-Up Storage
Drive-up access storage units are the ultimate self-service storage unit type that comes to mind first when considering storage options.
Drive-up units are ground-level units grouped in outdoor storage buildings, each with its own parking lot. Each unit has an assigned parking space right in front of it. That way, you can pull directly up to the unit’s roll-up doors, which are accessible from the outside.
Drive-up storage units are great for people who need to load/unload lots of items, or a few large items, on a regular basis, as they let you back your car, pick-up, box, or moving truck right up to the unit’s door.
Indoor units, on the other hand, are found inside a building, often multi-story. If you get one of the indoor upper-level units, reaching the door to your unit requires a long walk, a dolly/push cart, or elevators to load large, bulky items in and out.
Climate Control Storage Units vs. Non-Climate Controlled Storage Units
Climate-controlled storage units, also called temperature-controlled units, feature heating and cooling systems that maintain a steady temperature and air quality. But climate control storage solutions mean more than just heating and air conditioning. It includes a humidity control and monitoring device.
The added benefit of humidity control is a crucial storage solution for belongings sensitive to moisture or dry climates. Controlling the humidity prevents mold and mildew and other damage caused by high moisture, or cracking and warping caused by dry climates.
Climate and humidity control maintain ideal humidity levels year-round. This is important if you are storing certain items that can be easily affected by extreme temperatures. Standard units, without climate control, on the other hand, are just storage units without any heating or cooling at all.
Watch this video to learn more about climate-controlled storage units:
24-Hour Access
That said, there won’t always be staff present for on-site customer service.
As the name implies, 24-hour access means you can access your storage unit at all hours of the day or night.
The guaranteed availability these units provide eliminates the anxiety of restricted access hours, particularly during unexpected life events or sudden moves.
24-hour storage facilities often offer adaptable rental terms with short and long-term storage.
- For example, if you’re putting your items in temporary storage between moves while you’re staying with friends, you may need to access your stuff at random times.
- A month-to-month lease on a 24-hour access unit gives you that flexibility without locking you into a lease.
- But you typically get a price break when you sign a longer lease.
Maybe you’re a small business owner looking to store your business inventory and need reliable access and security for inventory management and delivery fulfillment early in the morning, before business hours. In that case, a long-term 24-hour storage unit lease will save you some money.
Contrary to popular belief, 24-hour storage access doesn’t necessarily mean higher costs, as it can actually help you save money. Many limited-hour facilities charge additional fees if you need to access your unit after hours.
And the flexibility to schedule movers, deliveries, and pickups during off-peak hours can save you some bread in the long run.
Storage Unit Sizes
Storage facilities offer many different storage unit sizes, which are measured in feet by width and length. A self-storage facility may also offer mini storage lockers, which are like closets with durable and secure locking doors.
Standard storage units have a ceiling height of 8′-10′. The most common sizes are:
To calculate the total square feet, simply multiply the width by the length. For example, a 10×10 unit will yield 100 square feet of storage space.
Larger sizes, like a 10×20 or 10×40, can often be used for vehicle storage for cars, motorcycles, trucks, recreational vehicles, campers, ATVs, and boat storage. Some facilities specialize in vehicle storage and offer additional amenities, like RV storage facilities offering water and dump stations.
Choosing a Self-Storage Facility
When it comes to choosing a storage facility, you should consider several things. Ideally, you want to select from self-storage facilities close to where you live, Dozier said.
Additional factors to consider include whether the facility offers enhanced security systems like video surveillance, security cameras, alarms, on-site management ot security personnel, electronic gated access requiring an entry code or biometric thumbprint, and other security features.
Consider whether a prospective facility has adequate outdoor lighting and fencing to deter would-be thieves.
Before you rent a self-storage unit, follow these four tips from the Better Business Bureau:
- Check with your local Better Business Bureau to see whether any complaints have been filed against facilities you’re looking at.
- Compare prices for at least three nearby locations.
- Find out whether your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy covers your belongings when they’re in a self-storage unit. If not, you may be able to buy insurance from a self-storage facility or an independent insurer.
- Make sure you buy a secure lock to protect your belongings.
Cost of Renting Self-Storage
The cost of renting a self-storage unit varies based on the unit’s size and location. The average price to rent a self-storage unit in the United States is $85.30 a month as of July 2025. But that’s the average price across all unit sizes. Smaller units will cause less than that, with a 5×5 costing $39.28 on average, and a 5×10 averaging around $58.13
Prices tend to be higher in dense urban areas such as San Francisco or New York.
Again, lots of storage facilities offer month-to-month leases, which make them a great short-term option for temporary storage.
That said, storage companies may raise rates over time, so be aware that your costs might go up in the long term. Locking into a long-term lease can help you control your monthly rent.
Additional self-storage insurance can be purchased as well to protect the value of your items in the event of damage or theft. Many companies require tenants to insure their belongings, but you can often show that you have an active home or renters policy to meet the requirement.
Storage renters should know that if they fail to make payments, the self-storage operator may lock their unit and put a lien on it. If back rent and fees aren’t paid, the storage company can auction off the contents to vacate the unit.
To keep the storage unit prices from running away from you, let’s review a few tips and tricks you can employ to keep the monthly storage costs down.
Tips for Reducing Self-Storage Unit Costs
There are a few things you can do to save money on a storage unit that has the features you’re looking for. Here are some tricks you can use to keep your monthly self-storage bill in check:
- Shop around: Since promotions and specials are common in the storage industry, it pays to shop around. Use comparison sites like SpareFoot to find the best price and location for your needs.
- Consider your needs: If you aren’t storing sensitive items, consider skipping a climate-controlled unit and opting for a traditional unit instead.
- Time it right: You’ll typically pay the highest prices between May and September. If you want the lowest prices, consider timing your storage rental between November and March.
- Look for company discounts: Some companies offer first-month free deals or reduced rent for the first few months. Ask about cash and Auto-Pay discounts as well.
- Ask about personal discounts: Facilities often offer discounts to groups such as seniors, teachers, students, and military personnel. These special prices aren’t always advertised, so make sure to ask before signing your rental agreement.
- Negotiate unreasonable increases: If you don’t think rent increases are reasonable, try to negotiate self-storage rates. Operators may raise prices to keep up with the market, but reliable customers may have some wiggle room if they object.
What is Self Storage: How SpareFoot Can Help
By now, you should have a pretty good idea of what self-storage is and how to use it. Some of the choices you’ll have to make before locking your unit down are unit size, location, and which amenities you want to add.
But how do you find a unit in your area that matches your size needs, has all the features you want, and is still in your price range?
That’s where we come in.
Just type your area code into our SpareFoot Storage search tool. We’ll give you immediate access to the largest storage facility marketplace on the web.
Our site filters the search results by detailed guidelines that you set based on your needs, such as the closest distance from your home, lowest prices, climate control, 24-hour access, or on-site security.
SpareFoot can help you find the perfect self-storage unit for your situation. Whether you’re off to college or need temporary storage in the middle of a big move, a storage unit might seem like a luxury expense, but think of it like this:
You can rent a month of storage for the cost of renting a moving truck for a day or paying for professional mover help for an hour or two. Then, you can take your time and move between your old place, your storage unit, and your new place at your leisure.
In fact, that handy SpareFoot tool we mentioned can filter your search results to show storage units in your area that offer your first month of storage for free!
Self-storage refers to a monthly storage unit rental where you control what’s stored and how items are arranged, with the flexibility to access your belongings whenever you want, rather than waiting for staff assistance.
Sleeping in self-storage units is illegal and prohibited by all storage facilities due to safety, zoning, and liability concerns, as units lack proper ventilation, sanitation, emergency exits, and climate control required for habitation.
Self-storage is a rental space where tenants have full control over their stored property and arrangement, distinguishing it from full-service facilities where staff manages storage and limits customer access to belongings.
Self-storage is used for downsizing excess possessions, temporary storage during moves, small business inventory storage, and accommodating returning college students or elderly parents moving in when larger homes aren’t affordable.
SpareFoot
SpareFoot is the largest marketplace for storage, making it simpler to move and store your stuff. Our website lets you compare the most storage options nationwide and pick the best solution for your needs, whether it's traditional self-storage or full-service storage.
