When you need extra space to stash unused furniture or old electronic items or something that you don’t need in daily life, it makes sense to shop around for the best storage unit prices. It’s natural for you to wonder how much a storage unit cost. Here, we delve deep into the costs of storage units.
Factors that determine a storage unit price
The cost of a storage unit is determined majorly by its size. The bigger the unit is, the costlier it will be. Apart from size, the capacity to store, additional features, and the location matters a lot.
On average, a standard storage unit will cost somewhere between $60 and $180 per month. And if you are hiring a climate-controlled storage unit, the cost would be somewhere between $75 and $225.
Storage unit prices fluctuate by location and you need to take this into account when you’re looking at the average cost to rent. For example, a 10 ft. x 10 ft. unit will cost as much as $215 per month in Los Angeles while in Colorado, it would cost as low as $95 per month.
What’s the average cost for a 10’ x 10’ Storage Unit?
A 10 x10 storage unit is the average size and its standard cost would be $107.28 while the same sized storage unit with a climate control feature would require you to spend $126.08 per month.
What are the common factors that decide the storage unit price?
Let us see a few factors that decide the storage unit cost.
- Type of service
When you hire a full-service storage unit with pickup and delivery, it would be costlier. Self-service is entirely DIY and cheaper but you need the manpower to load and unload the household belongings.
- Seasonal demand
There’s a huge demand for storage units in summer when people stash things like water sports vehicles away for the winter. The more in demand storage units are the more storage facilities increase their starting rates.
- Location of the unit within the facility
Most often we ignore this part while analyzing the cost factor. For instance, a unit on the first floor or units near the elevator typically would be costlier.
- Climate-controlled units are expensive
When it comes to valuable objects like a TV or computer, climate-controlled facilities — especially in areas with extreme temperatures are a good option. Climate control protects the organic materials in your furniture and clothes from humidity and heat and your electronics from the cold. However, the storage unit prices will be high. A climate-controlled storage unit is a safe bet for furniture, electronics, books, and clothing.
- 24-hour access storage unit
When you hire a storage unit with round-the-clock access, it is beneficial but expensive. For example, if you want to store DJ equipment, you will reach back after a party at late night or early morning and you need to access the storage facility for the better safety of the equipment. Some storage units even have 24/7 security guards, so you don’t have to wander around alone during those late-night visits.
Storage costs will be high when you include insurance
Same as auto insurance, you can take coverage against the goods stored in a storage unit. This secures your personal belongings 24x7. Insurance deductibles for storage units range from $100 to $500, depending on the amount of coverage you opt for. You need to remember that the insurance will be added up to the storage unit cost. Though it can make the unit slightly expensive, it also safeguards your items against vermin, flood, fire damage, etc.
When you store your items in the storage unit, prepare a list of them and if possible, click photographs. This will avoid later confusion.
Storage units are available in multiple sizes and you need to be careful while hiring one. Despite considering the cost factor, you should also think about the size as a small one will not be sufficient to hold every item and a larger one can be too big, causing the wastage of money.
