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Last Updated: Jan 01, 2024
Our team rated cheap storage unit companies that offer size guides, weather-control options, storage calculators, and 24-hour access to be the top.
BEST OVERALL
4.9
BEST CUSTOMER REVIEWS
4.8
BEST PREMIUM SERVICES
4.7
Temporary storage is required for your items if they are to be stored temporarily. You probably require extra space for additional inventory, or you want some items to be stored away from your home over a period of time.
Most college students go through the stress of taking their stuff home before they get a place to stay for the next term during summer.
Cheap Self-storage provides you with convenience and security on your belongings when stored in them, whether for some nights, weeks, or the whole summer.
It will cost an average value of $88.85 to rent a storage every month. This cost is just 2.5% lesser than the average cost in the year 2017. All orders for the entire storage sizes and types are included in the average package provided by companies the previous year.
The average price/sqft is also reducing. The average price per annual sqft was $0.96 in 2018, compared to $1.01/sqft in 2017.
The increase in new storage construction nationwide is the major reason why prices are fallen. Prices in many locations are reducing drastically as the demand for storage units is being met by supply gradually.
Meaning that storage companies are deflating prices due to the rise in competition compared to recent years.
Storage Unit Prices Comparison
| Storage Unit Size | Best For | The Average Price For Self-Storage (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|
| 5’ by 5’ | Few moving boxes, 1 or 2 furniture items | $60 |
| 5’ by 10′ | Seasonal items such as lawnmowers, boxes containing Halloween decorations | $70 |
| 10’ by 10’ | Few rooms’ worth of items | $110 |
| 10’ by 15’ and 10’ by 20’ | An entire home’s worth of belongings; ATVs, cars, boats, or motorcycles | $130 to $180 |
The cost of renting a storage unit is between $35 and $50 every month for a 5 x 10-foot storage unit. It will cost about $175/month for a 10 x 30 foot as well.
The security measure on a cheaper storage unit is always lower. The prices given above are for regular outdoor storage units with no options.
Non-Climate Controlled Storage Units:
| Storage Unit Size (ft) | Monthly Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 5 x 10 | $35 – $50 |
| 10 x 30 | $175 |
The monthly cost of the average climate-controlled unit increases by $25 – $30 higher than non-controlled storage units.
The monthly cost of a fully-loaded 10 x 30-foot weather-controlled storage unit is around $350 while the monthly cost for a smaller 5 x 10-foot storage unit with options ranges from $120 to $175.
Climate-Controlled Storage Units:
| Storage Unit Size (ft) | Monthly Cost Range |
|---|---|
| 5 x 10 (with options) | $120 – $175 |
| 10 x 30 (fully-loaded) | $350 |
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| 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.5 |
| Best Overall | Best Customer Reviews | Best Premium Services | Most Affordable | Best For Local |
| 15% Seniors & Military Discounts | 20% Seasonal Discount | 18% Flexibility Discount | 15% Student Discount | Not Disclosed |
| $2700-$6200 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) | $2850-$6350 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) | $2900-$6500 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) | $2200-$5400 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) | $2300-$5600 (Avg. 2-3 bedroom) |
| Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote | Get a Quote |
Our price comparison is focused on the monthly cost of a 10 by 10 storage unit. Higher rates may be charged in areas with increased average rents.
Below are our picks for cheap storage unit companies you may consider for a great deal:
BEST OVERALL
4.9
This company is an online-based storage solution center with more than 12,000 storage centers across the country. Sparefoot was established in 2008 and had its headquarters located in Austin, Texas.
Both businesses and consumers can visit their platform, make a reservation, and compare both full and self-service storage units, including mobile storage solutions on their website.
The location of the place, and gathering of information based on the sizes of the storage units, which include 5 by 5, 5 by 10, and so on, are present in each facility.
The company offers discounts to students, and military and rental are available every month. Each facility determines both its payment option and insurance, as contained on its website.
The company also provides moving supplies and storage unit size guides in each of its facilities. Some of the SpareFoot facilities offer climate-controlled storage units and mobile storage containers as well as 24-hour access by consumers.
Licenses:
DOT#: N/A MC#: N/A
Type:
Best For Storage
BEST CUSTOMER REVIEWS
4.8
This company is a self-acclaimed second-largest storage company in the United States having thousands of storage centers nationwide, providing business, personal and vehicle storage solutions to customers.
The significant building and availability of Extra Space Storage make it one of the best storage operators on our list.
The company is located in the Lowry district, and it uses an old airplane hangar converted into a modern storage facility for its operations.
Customers from nearby neighborhoods such as Cherry Creek, Montclair, and Hilltop enjoy using Extra Space because of its friendly employees and unique facility.
Extra Space Storage has about 1,500 storage units in Puerto Rico, Washington DC, and other 35 states in the country, including about 750,000 storage units and more than 80 million sqft of storage space available for personal or business rent, as well as vehicle storage.
The company also offers the first month for free and a 20% discount for online reservations. Their smaller units (5×5) costs $48 per month, and their 10×30 units go for $455 per month.
The security of the facility is certain, and daily drive-up access to your unit is granted from 6 am to 10 pm.
Licenses:
DOT#: N/A MC#: N/A
Type:
Best For Storage
BEST PREMIUM SERVICES
4.7
This company provides unique facility features to customers as well as top security and other moving services on their belongings. The company also offers climate-controlled storage units for your household belongings which may include watercraft, wine, and vehicles.
Even though the company only offers storage units of standard sizes, they also provide many auto storage units that can contain many moving boxes and other big items.
Life Storage is on our top list of storage operators due to its commitment to providing excellent customer service and quality of service delivery at all times.
The storage units from the company contain features like a free moving truck, daily customer support, an uninterrupted surveillance camera, hand carts, and climate control. To get any type of storage project, this is the best place to look.
The smallest storage unit from this company is the 10 x 5 that costs $72 per month and the 12 x 20 is the largest and costs $220 per month. Make sure you carefully focus on their price as the company is currently offering a 50% discount on your second month or even free of charge based on the unit.
Life Storage also allows you access to your nits from 6 am to 10 pm with separate intervals during holidays.
Licenses:
DOT#: N/A MC#: N/A
Type:
Best For Storage
MOST AFFORDABLE
4.6
This company provides great storage solutions for individuals, families, and businesses planning to relocate on a short or long-distance.
1-800-PACK-RAT provides all-steel and waterproof storage containers with doors using patented chamber technology which makes the containers usable as an ozone chamber to take care of items that may be damaged by smoke or water.
Even though this company is neither a storage nor a full-service storage company, the storage options they provide cover the things they lack. The company is known to be more dedicated to providing excellent support services to customers and helpful resources.
The company partners with HireAHelper and thus connects customers with moving teams in their location. The company also states that they are into relocation services at affordable prices, as well as long-distance relocation with professional long-distance movers helping you with the process.
1-800-PACK-RAT also provides customers with a one-month free rental and insurance coverage of about $10,000 free of charge.
BEST FOR CUSTOMIZING
4.5
This company provides a significant number of unit types and sizes for customers with ease of identifying the perfect storage solution for their belongings via thorough descriptions of their facilities, with location details, working hours, and other relevant features, even though their coverage area is limited.
Despite the friendliness of the company’s website, there is no information as to the pricing and monthly fees of the company on their page. Regardless of this fact, this company is one of the best options for those looking for an affordable storage solution with a variety of unit sizes.
Although the company is into monthly leasing of units, it is, however, not certain if they can rent for longer periods.
Storage Sense offers promotions to individuals and businesses like a move-in rate of $1 for the first 30 days and a 50% discount for the first 30 days as well.
They also offer insurance coverage of $2,000, which costs $9 each month up to $20,000 at $83 per month.
Kindly note that the average prices given above are for both climate-controlled and regular units that have no climate-control feature. Generally, climate-controlled storage is much costlier than regular units with a 30% to 50% increase.
Many other factors can influence the price of storage units regardless of the location. For instance, a storage facility in an urban area will generally be more costly than one in a rural area.
These other factors must be given serious consideration when looking for a storage unit for rent.
Climate-controlled units protect your stored belongings by regulating humidity and air temperature throughout the storing period. Be prepared to pay more than usual to rent a climate-controlled unit because its installation, maintenance, and powering require extra costs.
Although you will be able to save some money by renting a regular storage unit; however, your belongings will be prone to excessive-high humidity and temperatures.
If you are storing durable items for a short period then you have no cause to worry; else, it is recommended to opt for climate-controlled storage units for delicate and valuable items for a longer period of storage.
The cost of renting a storage unit from May to September is always high compared to the rest of the year. This is because most Americans relocate to new homes during this period, causing a great rise in demand.
Storage companies during this period also inflate the price for storage units. You will save more money when you rent a storage unit during the off-season than you would do during the peak season.
The size of storage units is probably the major factor that determines its cost. Larger storage units are generally costlier than smaller units.
But based on per square foot, the cost of larger storage units should be lesser. To calculate the price per sq-ft, multiply the unit’s size (10 by 10 = 100) to determine the overall square footage.
You can then divide your monthly rent by the overall sq-ft. the answer will give you the price per sq-ft, and thus will let you know if you are being over-charged on larger storage units.
The storage industry is widely known for its promotions and specials. For instance, some of these companies don’t charge for the first month. Consider these promotions when given the overall price of a storage unit by your storage company.
Make sure you read the terms and conditions of the promotion to know if you are required to make certain commitments, whether small or big. Sometimes, storage facilities will offer discounts to members of a club or professional organization; so, make sure you ask them.
For instance, SpareFoot offers a one-month free storage service for members of AAA and also gives them a gift card worth $20.
Kindly note that the cost of insurance is not added to the price of the storage unit. The majority of storage companies ask that you insure your belongings while some may require proof of insurance.
In most cases, your renter’s policy or homeowner’s insurance will provide coverage for your belongings, but not all the time.
Your storage facility can also provide insurance for your belongings at a cost. It will cost about $10 – $12 monthly to purchase a $2,000 coverage. This price can increase up to $30 and provide insurance coverage worth $5,000.
| Coverage amount | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| $1,000 to $4,000 | $6 to $12 |
| $5,000 to $10,000 | $15 to $18 |
| $10,000 to $15,000 | $20 to $25 |
The type and location of the storage facility are also important factor that determines the price. A storage facility in a populated city will cost more than one in a remote area.
This is because demand will be higher in cities than in rural areas. The type of facility, as well as the condition and age, are also factors that influence the cost. Modern storage facilities are typically higher in cost compared to older storage facilities.
There are many other amenities available that will increase the monthly cost of renting a unit. For instance, a storage facility that provides video coverage all through the facility might charge more than a storage facility with no surveillance camera.
To gain regular access to your units, you might also be charged a certain amount depending on your location. There has been a report of facilities that uses a kiosk system to manage rentals.
This particular type of storage system might come at a cheaper price because there is only an onsite manager and no form of wages for the employee.
Check with your local authorities if there are taxes incurred on monthly storage rent. Some storage facilities might as well include an administration fee on the overall monthly cost estimate.
Use our online moving cost calculator to calculate your moving cost.
Although, the majority of them cannot be covered in this list, however, if your storage unit allows you to save some money or you don’t plan to use it for a longer period, then it is safe to say OK.
Whichever way you want to use a storage unit, ensure your purpose is legitimate and not illegal.
Below are some examples of the usage of smart storage:
This is one of the best times to opt for storage. I once said that when we were looking for an apartment, we invest in a storage unit for 30 days.
You are not considering moving your furniture and household items with you while going to crash on your friend’s couch for a week before you move into your new home.
Storage is also a nice option for those relocating for their job and doesn’t have a place to live in yet. You can as well rent a storage unit if you are renovating your home and you need to store some items in the process.
The majority of the smallest storage units (a walk-in closet size) in our area were cheaper. Although prices are determined by location and company, however, you can get an affordable storage unit if you will devote your time.
You will be able to save some money if you are facing hard times fitting all your belongings into your home. Evaluate the cost involved in renting a storage unit for your non-essential belongings and the cost of moving to a larger apartment or home.
If you do not have a secure place to keep your luxury car or other valuable investment in your space, then you can opt for a storage unit. You will also be required to conduct a cost evaluation again.
If you truly have a series of belongings that needs proper care and you can pay for a storage unit – go ahead. However, if renting a storage unit will take a massive part of your budget, you will have to calculate if the return on the investment will make up for it.
Small enterprise owners can make good use of storage units. For example, there are many lawn care companies and contractors in our area. These companies rent storage units for their equipment rather than paying a huge fee for an office with an attached warehouse.
You can also rent a small storage unit that contains file cabinets for your files if your business only has files but no equipment. There is a need for proper documentation for longer periods as an enterprise owner. Renting a storage unit may allow you to save some money than opting for a larger office in the long run.
The monthly rate of your storage unit will be based on the season, size, location, and availability of the storage unit. That is why there is no general answer to this question.
However, you can generally determine how much you pay from the number of square footage you rent, so the higher the square footage, the higher you will pay. Use the company’s self-storage estimates map to catch a glimpse of how much you are likely to pay for a storage unit.
Yes, many moving companies offer storage units as part of their services. These storage units are often referred to as “moving and storage” or “storage-in-transit” options.
There are many types of storage units. A climate-controlled storage unit keeps the temperature of its interior heated in the winter and cooled in the summer. There are other features available in some climate-controlled units, such as air conditioning, humidity control, and enhanced heating. This unit is ideal for storing things that are sensitive to temperature.
Your storage rental agreement will contain both payment obligations and non-payment consequences. Usually, your account will switch to default once your payment is 30 days late.
That is when local lien laws will figure out its duration before they take action on the storage unit. This process will be completed by a store manager within 30 to 90 days.
You need to rent a storage unit from a facility that offers 24/7 access before you can access a storage unit at any time. Each storage facility has a different access policy as well as local laws.
For example, access is granted every day of the year by some facilities, except there are unforeseen circumstances. Although some facilities allow unrestricted access to the storage units, the majority of them offer access from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The following will be required to begin the rental process:
The responsibility for the items you stored with a company is on you. Your current and active insurance may cover your belongings in storage, so be sure to check with your provider. You can get affordable storage insurance through the company if it has one.
A storage company will proceed with local laws to reprocess your storage unit if you default on rental payment, breach your rental contract, or abandon the unit. In some circumstances, the contents of the unit will be sold to an auction house by the storage company. However, you will be sent many notices before they take this step.
A storage agreement is not required by U-Haul. This implies that storage unit rental is available for any amount of time. However, to avoid paying without using it for long, we advised you to store it for at least 30 days. Storage rates are not refundable, so if you store for just 10 days, you will not receive any refund for the remaining 20 days. You will have to pay for the whole 30 days.
Check your renter or homeowner’s insurance policy for existing coverage on self-storage, or you can just acquire one from any insurance provider based on self-storage insurance. Some storage facilities request proof of insurance, whether your homeowner’s insurance or third-party company before they can grant you a rental.
You can get a brochure from one of these insurance providers through the majority of storage facilities. Insurance is the responsibility of those storing their belongings.
Notify the facility manager with a verbal or written notice at least seven to ten days in advance of your vacation from the facility. If your account is on auto-pay, some companies required 30 days’ written notice. Ensure all your items are removed from the unit and properly sweep the storage unit with your lock removed.
Inform the facility manager that the storage unit is set for an inspection so that they can close your account. If you already noticed the manager that you are leaving the facility but later decided to continue your rental, please kindly inform the facility manager.
The hour when your facility manager is in the office is called office/working hours. They are there to provide customer service to you and also provide answers to any of your questions, sell supplies you may need to you, receive payments, and so on.
Access hours are simply the main hours in which you can visit your storage unit. Each facility determines these hours. Some self-storage centers offer unlimited accessibility, while others are limited. Some companies grant you access hours from 6 am to 10 pm every day.
Pick the storage facility that presents you with the most convenient and then book your storage unit online. You can make use of our unit size and price guide to determine the right size of unit for your need.
Take your time to find out the best storage unit for your needs and make sure you factor in the price, location, insurance, and size, and storage type while considering a particular storage company. A climate-controlled storage unit might be the best option for you if you plan to store your belongings over a long period.
Make sure you request a discount from your storage company as most of them offer the first month of storage for free to their customers. Also, place more priority on the security features of the storage facilities and the ease of access provided by the storage company.
Thomas has a degree in literature from Stanford University and a profession in Mass Communication. Thomas is a member of the Moving Feedback research team, an expert in writing educative articles to help readers make the right buying decisions. He is well versed in moving industry matters to give the best advice on moving needs.