The self-storage industry is experiencing an ongoing boom, likely driven by rising housing costs, the average home size shrinking by 6% since 2016, and changes in relocation patterns since 2020.
Tracking self-storage trends and their effects on storage unit operators and renters is essential, given the market’s projected growth to $85.27 billion by 2030. The 2025 self-storage market shows a trend toward short-term rentals, a 24% drop in average rental costs, and a focus on using technology to streamline the rental process.
Key Findings
- New Hampshire, Oregon, and North Dakota are the top three growing markets for self-storage rentals.
- Storage units are typically rented for approximately 20 months.
- The average price of storage units has dropped by 24% since 2023, decreasing from $99 to $75.
- 79% of renters are at least somewhat likely to use the same storage company when moving.
- Sustainability and customer convenience are two key focuses for the self-storage industry in 2025.
1. Short-Term Storage Demand Booming As Long-Term Rentals Extend
A Storable study from August 2024 found that 37% of respondents were considering or planning to move within the next six to 12 months, many citing the cost of living as their primary motivation.
As of December 2024, renters were using storage units for an average of 20 months, or about a year and a half.
The graph below illustrates the average length of stay, which has steadily increased since 2020, further reinforcing this trend.
| Average Rental Length Trends | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Length of Stay (months) | Year over Year Change |
| 2020 | 16.5 | 0% |
| 2021 | 16.5 | 0% |
| 2022 | 17.5 | 6.1% |
| 2023 | 18.3 | 4.6% |
| 2024 | 19.2 | 4.9% |
That said, our latest data looks to the future, revealing that more than half of those surveyed intend to use self-storage for short-term periods during their move, with a third planning to rent for three to six months.1
2. Self-Storage Rental Prices are Decreasing
In addition to a shift toward short-term storage rentals, the average self-storage price has dropped 24% since 2023. Storage prices surged during and after the COVID-19 global lockdown as demand for storage grew, with people moving in together from cities into suburban or rural areas.
But, since its peak in 2022, storage demand has stabilized, likely due to rising real estate costs. These events may add context to the recent trend of storage operators reducing prices and offering promotions to maintain occupancy rates.
Storage unit prices are calculated based on a few fluctuating factors like demand, rental period, unit size, location, and amenities.
The amenities U.S. respondents will pay more for include:
- Climate control (27%)
- Enhanced security (26%)
- 24/7 access (12%)
- Larger unit sizes (11%)
Determine your needs before you rent since size can impact prices and how you organize a storage unit. The table below compares a storage unit’s size with its average price and storage capacity.
| Storage Unit Prices By Size | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Storage Unit Size | Avg. Rental Price | Avg. Climate-Controlled Rental Price | Room Size Comparison |
| 5×5 | $33.78 | $32.77 | Hall closet/half-bath |
| 5×10 | $50.20 | $53.09 | Large walk-in closet |
| 10×10 | $78.96 | $82.83 | Average size bedroom |
| 10×15 | $105.7 | $111.62 | Small one-car garage |
| 10×20 | $128.84 | $152.94 | One-car garage |
3. Most Storage Units Used to Manage Lack of Space
Our study found 57% of people use self-storage due to a lack of space at home, highlighting the continued demand for long-term storage solutions amid rising housing prices and a shift towards smaller living spaces.
Self-storage provides a versatile answer to these storage challenges, accommodating a wide range of items, from large furniture pieces to car storage. What to store in a storage unit depends on individual needs, but 69% opt to store furniture, while 42% store seasonal items. The most common items include:
- Bulky furniture
- Boxes
- Seasonal items like sports equipment
However, it’s also important to consider the items people might feel less comfortable leaving in a storage unit. For example, nearly 40% wouldn’t store important documents. While self-storage is a safe solution, people prefer to keep valuable or sensitive items like important documents at home or in safety deposit boxes. Some items are also unsafe to store in a storage unit.
Self-Storage Demographic Statistics
Self-storage serves a wide range of customers, but demographic trends indicate clear patterns among renters. Women make up a majority of renters, with Gen X and Baby Boomers being the primary age groups.
Given that most renters use units for personal storage, it’s likely many storage units are shared by households or families, further emphasizing the importance of brand loyalty for long-term retention, especially for those who move.
- More than one-third of self-storage unit renters are over 54 years old.1
- Only 10% of renters fall within the 18–24 age range.¹
- Approximately 24% of self-storage renters are Millennials or Gen Z (ages 18-34).¹
- 57% of self-storage renters are women, while 43% are men.¹
- Nearly half of individuals who rent self-storage units earn under $75,000 per year.¹
- 49% of all storage renters are willing to travel up to 10 miles to get to their unit.¹
- Storage usage is consistent across all regions, with the West Coast having the lowest rental rate.¹
- Personal storage accounts for 73% of self-storage unit usage.2
- 79% of renters are at least somewhat likely to use the same storage company, even if they move.2
- The biggest self-storage operators in the U.S. are Extra Space Storage, Public Storage, U-Haul International, CubeSmart, National and Storage Affiliates Trust.3
- There are over 52,300 self-storage facilities in the U.S.4
- 37% of storage space is owned by five national storage chains.3
- Small businesses own 40% of all U.S. storage space.2
- The total market size for self-storage is $66.75 billion as of 2024.5
- The self-storage market is expected to reach $85.27 billion by 2030.5
- Storage facilities have an average 85% occupancy rate.6
- 14.6 million households (11%) in the U.S. rent storage units.7
- There is an estimated 2,099,000,000 square feet of available storage space in the U.S.4
- 5×10 is the most common storage unit size.3
- The national average monthly cost for a storage unit is $75.2
- The national average length of stay for a storage unit is 20 months (more than 1.5 years).2
- By 2030, the self-storage market CAGR is expected to increase by 5%.8
- New Hampshire, Oregon, and North Dakota are the three top U.S. markets for storage.2
65% of customers using self-storage while relocating are planning to buy a home.6 - Installing LED bulbs throughout the facility
- Implement timed and motion sensor lighting
- Upgrading to high-efficiency HVAC systems
- Smart thermostats to optimize climate control
- Storable Tenant Insights Report 2024
- SpareFoot Self-Storage Industry Statistics
- Self-Storage Almanac, 2024
- ResearchAndMarkets
- Storable
- SSA Demand Study 2023
- Grandview Research
- 2025 Self-Storage Industry Outlook
Self Storage Industry Statistics
So far, 2025 is shaping up to be a successful year for the storage industry, with the market
projected to increase to $18.52 billion by 2030. The following figures highlight the industry’s current landscape:
Future Projections for the Self-Storage Industry
Two key focuses for self-storage in 2025 and beyond are sustainability and leveraging technology to improve operating efficiency and the customer experience.
Sustainability
A growing trend in the self-storage industry is the push to go green and reduce environmental impact.
Energy usage is one area in which self-storage operators can take steps to reduce their carbon footprint through actions like:
Technology is also significantly impacting the self-storage industry, improving efficiency, security, and customer experience. Storage marketplace websites like SelfStorage.com have filters for options like contactless and express check-ins/move-ins, first-floor, 24-hour, and drive-up access. Technology provides increased visibility for storage facilities and offers customers a quick and easy way to find and rent the right storage units.
Beyond these operational improvements, self-storage already offers a significant sustainable benefit: keeping usable goods out of landfills. Discussing this benefit, Storable Representative Al Harris shares:
Experts weigh in…
“Sustainability has a very important role to play in the future of the self-storage industry. One under-discussed aspect of self-storage is the way that the industry keeps consumer goods out of landfills.
The more options people have to extend the life of their personal possessions and keep the items they have accumulated, the less need they have to purchase new items. Storage allows for more goods to stay within the secondary circular economy, and that is a good thing for the environment.”
Boosting Convenience With Technology
Technology is also having a significant impact on the self-storage industry, improving efficiency, security, and customer experience. Storage marketplaces like SelfStorage.com provide increased visibility for storage facilities and offer customers a quick and easy way to find and rent storage units.
The importance of convenience in self-storage selection is growing, as highlighted in Storable’s 2025 Self-Storage Outlook Guide. 9 The guide states,
Experts weigh in…
“Convenience and accessibility are on the rise as the top factors informing facility selection. Accessibility is a big deal not only in terms of fast, convenient reservations and online move-ins, but searching for facilities with drive-up access and other factors that make certain facilities more appealing. The broadening scope of consumer preferences is opening up the door for facilities to truly differentiate themselves.”
Find the Right Storage Unit for Your Needs
The self-storage market is expanding and is expected to continue growing in 2025, which is good news for storage facility owners and renters alike. Analyzing current self-storage trends reveals a growing emphasis on convenience and technology integration.
Understanding these changes helps new and existing customers know what to expect during the rental process and make informed decisions on the right type of storage for their needs.
Need extra space?
SelfStorage offers a convenient and efficient solution to fit your needs.
Find storageMethodology
The survey of 1006 adults ages 18 and over was conducted via SurveyMonkey Audience for SpareFoot, LLC on February 1, 2025. Data is unweighted and the margin of error is approximately +/-3% for the overall sample with a 95% confidence level.
Sources
Self-Storage Trends FAQ
Have questions about renting a storage unit? Find answers to some frequently asked questions below.
