Storage Units Near Me: How to Find and Choose One

Search self storage in Google Maps or Apple Maps to see the storage facilities around you. Prices and terms vary a lot, even between sites close together, so it's worth comparing two or three before you book.

Types of storage

• Self storage units: indoor rooms in a secure building, from locker-sized to garage-sized. Usually the most flexible option.
• Container storage: shipping containers in an outdoor yard. Often cheaper, with drive-up access, but less protected from damp and changes in temperature.
• Mobile storage: a container is dropped off at your home, you fill it, and it's taken away to a depot. Handy when you're moving house.
• Climate-controlled units: worth paying for if you're storing wooden furniture, documents, electronics, instruments or anything else that damp or heat can damage.

Choosing the right size

Units are usually sized by floor area in square feet. As a rough guide:

• 10–25 sq ft: boxes and a few small items, or a student's belongings
• 35–50 sq ft: the contents of a small room
• 75–100 sq ft: a one- or two-bedroom flat or apartment
• 150 sq ft and up: a larger house

Most facilities have an online size guide and will help you work it out. Packing tightly, with heavy boxes at the bottom and the things you'll need near the door, can let you rent a smaller unit.

Comparing prices and contracts

• Ask for the full price: the weekly or monthly rate, any deposit, insurance or admin fees, and the cost of a padlock.
• Introductory offers, such as half price for the first few months, are common, so check what you'll pay afterwards.
• Check the minimum term and how much notice you need to give to leave.
• Ask whether the price can go up during your contract.

Security and access

• Look for CCTV, gated or code-controlled entry, good lighting and alarms on individual units.
• Check the access hours. Some sites allow 24-hour access; others are only open during office hours.
• Visit before you sign if you can. A clean, dry, well-kept building is a good sign.

Insurance

Most facilities require your belongings to be insured. Check whether your home contents insurance already covers items in storage before buying the facility's cover, and keep a list and photos of what you store.

What you can't store

Facilities usually ban perishable food, flammable or hazardous materials (such as petrol, gas bottles and solvents), anything illegal, and living things. Check the facility's list before you pack.