Best Storage Units
Based on In-Depth Reviews

Perhaps it comes as no surprise to anyone that the storage unit industry is big. Like, really big. For some perspective, there are more storage units in the United States than there are McDonald’s and Starbucks combined. With 9.4% of American households currently renting a storage unit at an average of almost $90 per month, it’s clear that this industry permeates much of American society.

From downsizing to a smaller home, moving back home from college, or temporarily being away on active duty, there are countless and diverse reasons why someone might need a storage unit. Storage units have also become essential for small business owners with a need to store supplies and merchandise.

Sometimes, though, we just need more space for our growing number of belongings. In 2014, 65% of all storage unit renters had a garage in their house, 47% had an attic in their homes, and 33% had a basement. It’s safe to say that while units may start out as a temporary solution for many people, they can soon become a permanent fixture in their lives.

Lisa Mark is a professional organizer and founder of the Time Butler in the San Francisco Bay area. She often witnesses the ways in which temporary storage solutions drag out for longer periods. “You tell yourself, ‘It's only going to be for a couple of months, a year at the outset. I will go through these and everything in the storage unit’ and then it's really easy. Out of sight out of mind. You forget because everything is sort of locked away. It becomes a big black hole and a daunting prospect because you know the more time goes by the more you sort of lose track.”

Because the temptation to keep storing will always be around, there are several things to keep in mind when choosing a storage unit, and a few more to consider once you’ve acquired one. 

Out of the Box: Considerations when Choosing a Storage Unit (Step by Step)

Chances are that, if you’re considering renting a storage unit, you already have a mess on your hands. Moving anything from anywhere is never an easy process. At minimum it requires time, planning, and help. As such, there are three basic questions you should ask yourself before deciding on a storage unit:

1.     Why do I need to store these things?

2.     What do I need to store?

3.     How long do I need to store for?

Although these three points might seem painfully obvious, they can often get lost in the fray. It’s easy to view the process of obtaining a storage unit as a quick and simple fix to our immediate clutter problems because if we can’t see the mess, then it doesn’t exist, right? Well, not really. We’ve just relocated the mess and are now paying a monthly fee for it.

There’s no doubt that planning out the storage process ahead of time can save you a lot of time and money, while giving you some peace of mind. So, how do you get started? Here are a few tips.

Assess your belongings 

Before deciding whether or not you need a storage unit, you should always examine what it is you really want to keep. This step is essential because the number of belongings you load into your unit will determine the size, and thus the price, of your unit. Mark firmly believes in establishing a goal right from the outset, “First of all, you have to determine: why am I getting the storage unit? Am I getting the storage unit because I'm taking part in a project such as a remodel or downsize and if so, what is the end day like, when do I envision no longer needing that storage unit? And what do I need to do to work towards that goal?”

There are several different options you can take if you find that some things no longer serve any real purpose, utility, or bring happiness to your life. Donating, selling, or responsibly getting rid of some of these items can make a difference in your pocket when you’re choosing a storage unit size.

Have a clear timeline

This step is as important as assessing your valuables since a lack of planning can result in dragging out your monthly payments for months, maybe even years. 

Whether you’re downsizing to a smaller home or dealing with a loved one’s belongings, it’s important to always have a relatively clear timeline of how long you’re able and willing to keep the storage space. Mark proposes setting a weekly schedule for organizing your belongings inside the unit. “Ideally, you should have a timeframe of six to nine months at the outset where your strategy is going to be to spend some amount of time in that storage unit every week. Maybe an hour a day, three days a week.” 

Organize your belongings by categories

Make sure to clearly label and categorize your items into sturdy boxes. This will make the process of clearing out your storage unit—whenever that may be— considerably simpler. It will also make looking for any item later on much less of a headache. 

Regina Lark, a California-based professional organizer and founder of A Clear Path, told us that “lack of organization is one of the reasons why people don't know what they have in there, because things are just thrown in haphazardly... because things are so poorly labeled, they don't know what else is in there.”

She recommends putting some thought into how you label your boxes, but also how you place them in the unit. “All of your boxes should be labeled in big letters. Many storage units don't have good interior lighting, so you want all the labels to be facing outward if possible. You also want to store them so that the order makes sense, room by room, [...], this is all the kitchen stuff, these are all the clothes.”

Finally, Lark stresses the importance of adequately planning and budgeting before committing to a unit, especially since once your things are in storage, it’s a bit harder to get them out. “Storage companies make it very easy to get in. They'll give you a truck and [sometimes] the first one’s free, but they make it really hard to get out. You don't get that truck to help you get stuff out. You can't throw trash away on site. Sometimes they don't have dumpsters on site. And so, one of the big challenges for people in storage is that it takes a good bit of sequencing to get out.”

Jim Chiswell is a storage unit expert who has spent nearly 30 years in the industry, and currently has his own consulting company aimed at helping individuals get their own storage company off the ground. “First of all, people have to decide what their budget is. In other words, how much can I afford [on] a monthly basis to pay for the off-site storage of my materials? And then, what is the nature of what I'm storing: is it a precious antique like a piece of furniture that I hope to pass down to my kids or my grandkids?”

Once you’ve decided on your valuables and belongings, you’ll need to do a second round of assessment in order to determine what kind of storage unit you’ll need. Are you storing valuables sensitive to heat or humidity? In cases like these it might be necessary to get a climate-controlled unit, for example. Chiswell emphasizes how important assessing your belongings is before actually renting a unit, since some belongings don’t do as well inside storage “Your three Van Goghs or wife’s fur coats shouldn’t be stored in a storage unit. It’s really for everyday kinds of things.”

What type of storage unit do I need?

Usually, storage companies will offer four basic types of storage units, each for different purposes. This is when knowing what, and for how long you want to store things comes in handy.

1.         Climate-controlled units- Items that are particularly sensitive to heat, humidity, or the cold should be stored at special temperatures. Most large storage companies offer a variety of climate-controlled spaces.

2.         Indoor units- Indoor units will always be best if your items are susceptible to the weather. Climate-controlled units are almost always located indoors, although some locations do offer outdoor climate-controlled units.

3.         Outdoor units- These units are located out in the open. Some outdoor units are also drive-up units, making them very convenient during the unloading process. However, keep in mind that these, along with first-floor indoor and climate-controlled units, will usually be the pricier units.

4.         Vehicle storage units- Many self-storage companies offer car storage, but also motorcycle,, jet ski, and other recreational vehicle spaces.

Chiswell recommends focusing on three separate aspects before jumping in to rent a unit: accessibility, security, and the quality of management in a facility. “Most people will shop for a storage facility over the phone. They'll call around to two or three facilities that are convenient to them and they're asking for prices. But price alone shouldn't be the reason you select a particular place. “

What size do I need?

Just as there are different types of storage units for different scenarios, there are a number of sizes to choose from so that you can comfortably fit your belongings:

5 x 5 (25 sq. ft.) – Fits the contents of a small closet.

5 x 10 (50 sq. ft.)  – Fits the contents of a one-bedroom or studio apartment.

10 x 10 (100 sq. ft.)  – The most commonly rented unit; medium-sized which fits contents of a two-bedroom apartment.

10 x 15 (150 sq. ft.)  – Fits the contents of an entire one-bedroom house. Can even be used to store a small car or boat.

10 x 20 (200 sq. ft.)  – Can fit the contents of a four-bedroom house.

10 x 30 (300 sq. ft.) – The largest size, generally used for business storage.