Storage guide

Self storage units

A self storage unit is a private, lockable space you rent month to month. You bring your own lock and you have the only key. Most facilities offer sizes from a 5×5 closet up to a 10×30 garage, in indoor hallways or outside with drive-up doors.

When a self storage unit makes sense

Most renters use a unit during a move, a renovation, a downsizing or a life change. Others keep one long term for seasonal gear, business stock or overflow from a small home.

Best for

  • Moving between homes or leases
  • Home renovations and staging a house for sale
  • Downsizing, estate clean-outs and family transitions
  • Seasonal gear: patio sets, holiday decor, sports equipment
  • Small-business inventory and supplies

What to look for

Questions worth asking before you choose a self storage unit.

Access hours

Check both the gate hours and the office hours. Some facilities offer 24-hour access, often for an extra fee.

Security

Look for a gated entry with personal codes, lighting and video cameras. Ask whether each unit has its own alarm or smart lock.

Climate control

Worth it for wood furniture, electronics, documents, photos and anything you'd be upset to find warped or mildewed.

Loading

Drive-up units let you unload straight from the truck. Indoor units should have carts, wide hallways and an elevator if they're upstairs.

Common sizes

5×5Boxes, a chair, seasonal items: a small closetSize guide 5×10A studio apartment or a mattress set plus boxesSize guide 10×10A one-bedroom apartment, the most popular sizeSize guide 10×15A two-bedroom apartment or small houseSize guide 10×20A two-to-three-bedroom home or a carSize guide 10×30A four-bedroom home with appliancesSize guide

Find self storage units near you

Search by city or ZIP above, or start from a state below. Unclaimed listings don't list their features yet, so ask in your free request whether they offer what you need.

Texas 1,108California 878Washington 675Florida 537Georgia 485Pennsylvania 463Arizona 436Illinois 429Virginia 394Colorado 357Ohio 351New York 344North Carolina 337Oregon 313Michigan 270South Carolina 247Montana 224Wisconsin 216Tennessee 210New Jersey 207Oklahoma 202Maryland 196Minnesota 175Alabama 166Indiana 163Massachusetts 157Utah 157Nevada 145Missouri 131New Mexico 125Louisiana 117Kansas 100New Hampshire 95Arkansas 90Connecticut 86Kentucky 78Mississippi 69Iowa 68Maine 65Nebraska 58West Virginia 45Wyoming 35Delaware 34Hawaii 24Alaska 24Vermont 20Rhode Island 20North Dakota 17Idaho 13District of Columbia 13South Dakota 2

Tips from the pros

  • Most people overestimate. Stack boxes high and stand mattresses and tables on end, and you can often go one size down.
  • Leave a center aisle so you can reach the back without unpacking everything.
  • Use a disc or cylinder lock. They're much harder to cut than a standard padlock.
  • Ask for the online or web rate and any move-in promotion before you sign.
  • Check whether your homeowner's or renter's insurance covers stored goods, or ask the facility about a protection plan.

Self storage units: common questions

How do I choose the right unit size?
Start from the room count: a 5×10 holds a studio, a 10×10 a one-bedroom and a 10×20 most two-to-three-bedroom homes. Use our size guide to see what fits in each one.
Do I need to sign a long lease?
No. Most self storage is month to month. Some facilities discount 6- or 12-month terms, and each listing shows the terms that facility offers.
What can't I store?
Facilities prohibit hazardous and flammable materials, perishable food, living things, firearms or explosives where local rules ban them, and anything illegal. Vehicles usually need registration and insurance.
Is reserving free?
Yes. Reserving or sending a request through Storage Reservations is free and doesn't need a card. You pay the facility directly when you move in.
Climate-controlled storageWood, leather and upholstered furnitureDrive-up storage unitsMoving day: unload straight from the truckStorage lockers & small unitsStudents between semesters

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