How much do storage units cost?

Storage units provide an affordable and convenient way to store your belongings. People need storage units for a variety of reasons. You could be moving and need to store your belongings in the meantime. Or you may simply want a clutter-free home without getting rid of your belongings. Whatever the reason, it’s important to find the right storage unit for your needs. Determining how much do storage units cost can be tricky since there are so many different options out there. 

Storage unit cost can vary depending on the size and type of unit you choose. In this post, we’ll look at different types of storage units and the costs of each storage unit type. You may be surprised at some of the more innovative, convenient options available!

What is the average price of a storage unit?

The average storage unit in the United States costs between $60-$430 per month. This is a wide range because the cost of storage units can vary depending on the size, type, and location of unit you choose. The table below shows the typical range of monthly prices for storage units by size:

• Small (5×5 or 5×10): $60-110 per month
• Medium (5×15, 10×10, or 10×15): $130-250 per month
• Large (10×20, 10×25, or 10×30): $210-$430 per month

Factors that impact storage unit pricing

Type of Storage Unit

The type of storage service you choose will impact your price and price structure. For example, a self storage unit or portable storage unit will have a monthly fee. For these, you’re renting the whole unit (regardless of how much you use). You also must consider any costs of hiring movers to help move your items in and out of storage, or for your portable storage unit to be dropped off/picked up. On the other hand, on-demand storage companies (like Clutter’s “Smart Storage”) work differently. These companies will pick up your belongings from your home and store them in their warehouse. They will charge a monthly fee similar to self storage or portable storage – but just for items you store. They then charge to pick up or drop off items at your convenience, but generally less than hiring movers.

Size of Storage Unit

As we mentioned, the size of your storage unit is going to have a big impact on the price. The larger the storage unit, the more it will cost. However, when looking at pricing, make sure you look at price per square foot. You may find that a 5×5 isn’t that much cheaper than a 5×10, but you will get double the space. So if you’re looking for a cheap storage unit, go with a smaller size. However, if you’re looking for the best value, make sure to compare price per square foot.

Location of Storage Unit

The location of your storage unit will also play a role in pricing. Storage units in metropolitan areas will generally be more expensive than storage units located in rural areas. This is because real estate is generally more expensive in these areas and demand is higher in big cities where there’s simply less space for people to store excess items.

Climate Control for Storage Unit

If you’re storing anything sensitive to temperature or humidity, you’ll want to get a climate-controlled storage unit. These units maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level, which protects your belongings from damage. While it seems like these types of storage units would cost a lot more, they do try to stay competitive so you may be able to find a climate-controlled unit for around the same price as one without climate control.

Convenience of Storage Unit

Different types of storage units offer different types of convenience. For example, a self-storage drive-up unit is more convenient than a fourth floor unit far away from the elevator. As another example, on-demand and portable storage often have similar monthly rates to self-storage, but may charge an additional fee for pick up and delivery, especially for short-term rentals. These convenience factors and many more can play a role in how much you’ll pay for storage.

Time of Year or Month When You Rent Your Storage Unit

The time of year can also impact storage unit pricing. Summer is the busiest season for storage units since people are moving and need somewhere to store their belongings. As a result, storage units tend to be more expensive during this time. If you’re flexible, you can save quite a bit by moving into a storage unit before or after summer.

Another thing to consider is that storage unit pricing can vary by time of the month. The first and last week of the month (especially weekends) are more expensive due to higher demand. By avoiding these busier times, you might be able to get a cheaper storage unit and/or cheaper pickup/delivery fees (for portable and on-demand storage) before the price goes up again.

Insurance for Storage Unit

Most storage units require you to have insurance for your belongings, and this cost isn’t usually built into your storage fees. This is to protect the storage facility in case of any damage to your belongings. You can typically get storage insurance through your homeowners or renters insurance policy. If you don’t have either of these, you may be able to purchase a storage insurance policy from the storage facility itself. Some storage options, such as on-demand storage, provide the option to opt in or out of insurance, providing maximum flexibility to their customers. 

Lease or Contract for Storage Unit

The length of your storage unit lease or contract can also impact the price. You may get a better monthly deal if you sign a contract for 6 months or a year, rather than paying month-to-month for the same amount of time.

 

Types of Storage Units

When it comes to storage units, there are a few different types to choose from. Self-storage units and portable container storage are some of the most common options. However, a newer option called on-demand storage (from companies like Clutter) is becoming increasingly popular.

Here’s a quick look at the three different types of storage:

Self Storage Units

Self storage units are the most popular type of storage unit. They are typically located near residential areas and come in a variety of sizes. Prices for self storage units vary depending on the size, location, and amenities of the unit and can be very affordable especially if you have a lot of items to store. However, this option requires you to handle all of the work like dropping off and picking up items on your own.

Portable Container Storage

Portable container storage units are also popular. They offer a convenient way to store your belongings as you can have them delivered right to your door. Prices for portable storage units vary depending on the size of the unit as well as where it needs to be transported to (which can increase the fee by thousands). One of the downsides to these is that if you need something from your storage unit, you have to pay to have the entire unit delivered which can be costly and inconvenient. Alternatively, you can store it on your own property, but it may take up a lot of space in your yard or driveway.

On-Demand Storage

On-demand storage (like Clutter’s “Smart Storage”) is a newer type of storage becoming increasingly popular. With on-demand storage, rather than having access to a full unit, you can have your belongings stored in a secure facility and then delivered when you need them. With on-demand storage, you pay a monthly fee calculated by the number of items you have and their size, rather than for an entire unit. This can save money vs. renting a storage unit that you have or may not fill. In addition, you’ll usually pay for pick up and delivery of your items. This type of storage is affordable and flexible for those who want to request certain items to be delivered when needed and avoid the hassle of transporting items back and forth. Once downside is that customers who want to access stored items multiple times per week would have to schedule pickups/deliveries each time.

Which type of storage unit is best?

There is no right answer regarding which type of storage unit is better than the others. It all depends on your individual needs and preferences. If your number one concern is the freedom to go visit your storage unit yourself at a moment’s notice, then your best bet is probably a traditional self storage unit. With a self storage unit, you can access your items at any time within the facility operating hours.

Convenient + Affordable Storage

However, if you’re looking for convenience, then portable storage or on-demand storage may be a better option for you. Portable storage is good if you want to access all of your items at once. However, you need somewhere for the storage container to be delivered which can be tough in a city. The problem with a portable storage unit is that if you need to grab something from storage, you have to pay to have the whole unit delivered which can be expensive and a bit of a hassle if you just need to grab a few things.

If you want an affordable and convenience solution, you might consider on-demand storage. With on-demand storage, your belongings will be stored in a secure facility and then delivered to you when you need them. Some on-demand storage companies (like Clutter) will even provide you with an online photo catalog of your belongings so you can easily pick out exactly what you want to get delivered. This is a great option if you don’t want to deal with running to storage and digging through a unit. It’s a full-service option that will save time and hassle.

Conclusions about Storage Unit Pricing

When determining storage unit pricing, your best bet will always be to first determine what type of storage you need and then get quote from a few services near you. However, we hope that this article helped answer the question of how much storage units cost, as well as the different types of storage units: Self storage units, portable container storage, and on-demand storage. They each have their benefits and drawbacks, so it’s important to consider what is important to you.