Who Are The Best Storage Companies?
Are you looking for one of the best storage facilities? If you are moving or decluttering your home, using the services of a storage facility can be very useful. It gives you somewhere to put your possessions and keep them safe.
Renting a storage unit has become commonplace among those who are selling their home and trying to make the appearance stand out.
By renting a storage unit, you’ll be able to swiftly declutter your home creating a more welcoming appearance. First impressions sell homes so getting unnecessary “things” into a storage unit can go a long way toward making your home sale easier.
While you could store items at a friend’s or relative’s home, this is often far from ideal. It is undoubtedly a cheaper option, but offers you less security and could end up harming your relationship with the other person.
Remember too that it is also advisable to get rid of items you no longer really need before putting them into storage. There are many excellent junk removal companies you can hire to start the decluttering process. Another option is to call one of the many companies that pick up donations.
Once you have decided that you want to use a storage facility, which one do you choose? There are many storage companies available, but they don’t all offer the same service.
Let’s review the best self-storage companies including unit prices, sizes, and more so that you can work out which will be right for you. There is much to know about renting a storage unit so grab your favorite beverage and dig in.
Storage Near Me
One of the easiest ways of finding a storage facility nearby is to do a Google search. By searching online you are bound to see some of the better storage companies we will be discussing below. Getting equated to which companies are closeby will make things easier to start your search.
A few of the search terms I would suggest using to find a storage facility are storage near me, storage unit near me, storage facility near me, or best storage units near me. All of these search terms should put multiple storage options in front of you. Let’s take a look at some of them.
5 of The Best Self-Storage Facilities
We will be taking a look at storage facility reviews for:
- U-Haul
- Public Storage
- Extra Space Storage
- CubeSmart
- Life Storage
U-Haul
Perhaps the best-known company on our list, U-Haul offers customers self-storage as well as their truck rental services. Though possibly not the cheapest of storage companies, they do offer a lot to customers.
U-Haul Has Tons of Locations
As you would expect from the largest business on this list, Uhaul offers storage facilities in every state. If you aren’t particularly near one of their facility locations, you have the option of having a portable storage container delivered to your home.
Their U-Box service will allow you to fill the storage container at your leisure, which they will then collect and store at their secure facility.
Security is Great at U-Haul
Housing your possessions in a secure facility is naturally something you want when looking for storage. U-Haul has some of the best security in the business.
They offer video surveillance, electronic gate entry, and a manager on-site. Some of their storage facilities also offer individual alarm systems for storage units.
Insurance at U-Haul
Even with the level of security provided by U-Haul, insurance can offer extra peace of mind. U-Haul has an insurance program called Safestor that is an optional extra. This insurance will replace all of your items if they are stolen or damaged while in storage.
There are limits to this insurance policy, however, as they don’t cover highly valuable items. If you are interested in taking out this storage insurance, make sure that the items you want to store are going to be covered.
U-Haul Storage Facility Unit Sizes and Costs
Keep in mind these are rough estimates of the cost to rent a U-Haul storage unit and can vary by location.
- Storage unit 5x5 = $65-$95
- Storage unit 5x10 = $75-$90
- Storage unit 10x10 – $130-$80
U-Haul certainly is one of the best self-storage companies to look into. Here is access to their website to make quick contact with them. You can also search online for U-Haul near me to find out their closest location. You can also reach them by phone at (800) GO-U-HAUL.
You can also take a look at a complete U-Haul rental pricing guide for all your moving needs.
Public Storage
Operating more than 2,200 storage facilities in North America and Europe, there should be a Public Storage location near you. They are known for some very low-cost storage deals and could be best for you if you have a limited budget.
The Public Storage headquarters is located in Glendale, California. Formed in 1972, it is one of the oldest storage companies. Public Storage is also one of the largest having locations in thirty-nine states as well as being located in Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, and Belgium.
Prices at Public Storage
While generally, Public Storage offers some of the lowest prices in the business, it can vary depending on your location. Though whichever location you are looking to rent your storage unit at, they offer a $1 deal for new customers.
This deal is only for the first month, though they do offer a 30% discount on your normal monthly rent when booking online. Despite this, you should check the contract before you agree to the terms, as they may increase their prices over time. You don’t want to be caught out by an increase in storage rent.
Public Storage Facility Space is Outstanding
With more than 142 million square feet of storage space available to customers, they are the largest self-storage business. This should mean that wherever you are located, you aren’t too far away from a Public Storage facility.
With so much storage space available, you can expect their prices to be very competitive to make sure they fill as many of their units as possible. This explains how they can offer a $1 deal to new customers.
You can reach Public Storage on their website to book your self-storage unit. You can also try Public Storage near me to see if there is a location close by. You can also reach Public Storage by phone at (800) 688-8057.
Public Storage Facility Unit Sizes and Pricing
The pricing information below is the average cost of renting a storage unit and can vary quite a bit depending on your location.
- 5x5 = $20-$40
- 5x10 = $55-$65
- 10x10 = $80-$145
- 10x15 = $125-$155
- 10x30 = $190-$235
As you can see from Public Storage’s pricing schedule, they are one of the lowest-priced storage facilities.
Extra Space Storage
The company operates more than 1,850 storage facilities across 43 states, D.C. and Puerto Rico. If you have one of their storage facilities near you, there are many things to recommend them.
Extra Space Storage has over one million square feet making them one of the large self-storage companies in the United States. They have an excellent reputation that puts them on our list of the top storage facilities to consider.
Extra Space Storage Facilities Are Known For Value
The storage prices from this company include more than you might expect given their low fees. It is easy to assume that they will be lacking compared to their competitors, but this isn’t the case.
They offer security facilities that are comparable to U-Haul with video surveillance, security gates, and managers on the premises. Their storage facility will also regularly be treated to prevent pests from gaining a foothold and attacking the contents of people’s units.
They also offer climate-controlled units, if you have some items to store that would be adversely affected by climatic changes. Some of their locations also offer outdoor units that you can drive up to.
When you reserve a storage unit, they have many sizes available to meet your exact requirements. You should also be able to find a discount when you make a reservation online.
Extra Space Storage Unit Sizes and Costs
Here are some rough estimates on what it will cost to rent a storage unit from Extra Space Storage. Prices for storage vary based on location.
- 5x5 = $35-$45
- 10x5 = $50-$60
- 10x10 = $45-$100
- 10x15 = $110-$130
- 10x20 = $225-$265
Truck Rental is a Bonus
If you need a rental truck to get your possessions to the storage unit, they can help you here as well. They work with Budget Truck Rental to provide a discount of up to 20% on a vehicle to move your stuff. This discount is available when you reserve a storage unit to further help reduce your storage costs.
You can get in touch with Extra Space Storage by contacting them through their website. You can also search for them online with Extra Space Storage near me. You can reach Extra Space Storage by phone at (877) 578-0603.
CubeSmart
CubeSmart is another self-storage company that offers great prices. They operate over 1,200 self-storage facilities in about half of U.S. states.
Storage Facility Options With CubeSmart
You can rent storage units from a locker size (5 ft by 5 ft) up to a 30-foot unit. The wider range of options means that you should be able to rent a unit that is exactly right for your needs, saving you money by not paying for space you don’t use.
Storage for your vehicle, whatever size, is also available. If you have an RV that you would like to store for the winter, your nearest CubeSmart might be able to help. Those who have the need to have a storage unit for a car might want to start here.
Their locations typically offer both indoor and outdoor storage, keeping your vehicle protected from the elements if you need it. Cubesmart has one of the widest variety of storage options of all the best self-storage companies.
Savings With CubeSmart
At many of CubeSmart’s locations, they offer a free moving truck. This allows you to borrow a truck from the company for up to 4 hours. You will be able to reserve a truck in advance if they have them available at your location on the day you need it.
If there isn’t a free truck available, they have partnered with Penske to offer a discount of 10% to their customers. This is ideal if you are planning a long-distance one-way move, where Penske gives you free unlimited mileage.
They are also partnered with Simple Moving Labor who provides full-service moving help if you need it. You can get a 10% discount if you need help to fill your storage unit or for any aspect of your move.
They also offer discounts for military personnel and college students, as well as offering the first month free for new renters. There is up to a 15% discount when reserving a unit online as well.
Cubesmart Storage Unit Sizes and Costs
See some ballpark pricing on what it will cost to rent a storage unit from Cubesmart. Again, these prices can vary based on location.
- 5x5 = $40-$85
- 5x10 = $60-$85
- 10x10 = $95-$125
- 10x15 = $125-$155
- 10x20 = $145- $160
- 10x30 = $220-$335
You can get in contact to rent a storage unit with Cubesmart by visiting their website. Also, search online with Cubesmart near me. You can reach CubeSmart by phone at (877) 279-7585.
Life Storage
With over 1,000 facilities across the U.S., this is another option for self-storage worth considering if you are near one of their locations.
Security is Top-Notch at Life Storage
Life Storage uses video surveillance, and its facilities are well lit to ensure you are safe when using them. You gain access to your storage unit using your personal security code, without the need to stop by at their office first.
This security feature makes sure that only people who are renting units can get access and reduces the chances of things being stolen.
Climate Controls Are Offered at Life Storage Facilities
If you need climate-controlled storage, there are many different sizes of units available with this business. They also offer a few different types of climate control, this includes air-conditioned units, heated units, and humidity-controlled storage.
You might choose different types of climate controls depending on the items you are going to store. If you were storing electronics or furniture, a heated unit might prevent damage from being done by the cold weather in winter. Humidity control will prevent mold damage to fabrics.
Life Storage Facility Unit Sizes
Here are the storage unit sizes for Life Storage along with the average cost to rent one of their units. Please keep in mind these are average costs and as has been mentioned already location plays a significant role in pricing.
The common storage unit pricing is displayed. You will need to call Life Storage to get quotes on the non-quoted unit sizes.
- 5x5 = $65
- 5x10 =$110
- 5x15 =
- 10x10
- 10x15
- 10x20 = $180
- 10x30
- 20x20
Life Storage has one of the best varieties of storage unit sizes for rent. You can reach Life Storage at their website. As mentioned previously, you may want to find out who close a Life Storage company nearby by searching Life Storage near me. You can contact Life Storage by phone as well at (833) 777-8295.
When you are looking for a storage unit to rent all of these storage facilities are excellent options!
Should I Rent a Portable Moving Container Instead?
Some folks compare renting a self-storage unit vs a portable container and opt for a Pod instead. More often than not the decision to do so is based on convenience. Some people like the convenience of being able to walk out their front door and access their things. They don’t need to get in their car and drive to a storage facility if they need access to something.
If this sounds more like what you’re looking for it will be advisable to check out some of the best portable moving and storage companies. You can see our detailed review of some of the places you may want to reach out to.
Video: How to Keep Your Storage Unit Secure
This is a much-watch video when you are renting from a storage facility.
Other Things to Consider When Renting Storage Units
There are a few other decisions to make other than which company to go with when renting from a storage facility.
Do you need climate control?
If you are going to store fabrics, furniture, documents, and anything else that could be damaged by mold or mildew, climate control is a good idea. It is an extra expense, but it will be worth the cost if it keeps your possessions in a good condition when stored over a prolonged period.
If you really need climate-controlled storage, you may want to do a search for storage units near me with climate control. Again, doing online research you should see at least a few results.
What size unit do you need?
The more space you need in a unit, the more you will have to pay. While you can stack items up to save space, you will need to leave some room to get access to all of your items more easily.
What affects the cost of storage?
The space you need is a big deciding factor on your overall costs, but your location also plays a role. Urban areas tend to be more expensive for storage than rural locations.
The length of the contract you have for the unit also affects your expenses. Many companies offer month-to-month leases, but there can be savings to be had if you need storage for longer periods and can pay upfront.
Do you need full-service storage?
A full-service storage company will pack your items into moving boxes, create an inventory, and transport them to the storage facilities. This will, of course, cost more than self-storage. If you need an item of your possessions back, you will likely have to pay extra for this to be returned to you.
Frequently Asked Storage Unit Questions
See ten popular questions along with their answers when renting from a storage facility.
1. How does self-storage work?
Renting from a self-storage facility is pretty straightforward. You will find a preferred storage company and choose the size unit you would like and the time needed to rent it for. Storage units are clean, dry, and secure spaces that allow you to store most things.
2. What’s the difference between standard self-storage and full-service storage?
A full-storage facility will pack your items into storage units for you and then ship them to units at the storage facility. With self-storage, it will be your responsibility to take your stuff to the facility and pack your unit.
When you need to get one of your things out of a full-service unit, you’ll have to pay and wait for the company to deliver the unit back to you.
3. What are the types of storage facilities?
There are different types of storage facility options for all your storage needs. Indoor units are perfect for items that are sensitive to the weather or need climate control.
Outdoor units are fine for durable items and your vehicles. You can even rent specialty storage as well that is suitable for a boat or RV. Comparing what your storage needs are from facility to facility could become important.
4. Is searching online for storage unit rentals near me a good way to find one?
Yes, as long as you are using one of the storage facilities mentioned here in our review. Some people use storage unit near me prices to get a comparison of costs of local storage facilities.
5. How big a storage unit do I need?
How much storage space you will need is really dependant on what you are looking to store. Life Storage has an excellent size estimator tool that will give you a visual presentation of what can fit into various size units. Use their visualization tool to see what size storage unit you’ll want to rent.
6. What storage unit is the largest?
The largest storage units are 10x30 and 20x20. Cubesmart and Public Storage offer a 10x30 storage unit. Life Storage offers a 20x20 storage unit.
7. Is renting from a storage facility worth it?
If your home is seriously cluttered renting a storage unit can do wonders for your home’s appearance. A significant factor in home sales is the appearance and first impressions of a buyer. A storage unit can help solve that problem for you.
8. Can you rent a storage unit for a week?
It will depend on the firm but most storage companies shy away from doing it. They prefer to see customers rent monthly.
9. What can’t you put in a storage unit?
There are quite a few things you are not allowed to have in a storage unit including toxic chemicals, flammable items, weapons, ammunition, perishables, non-registered or uninsured vehicles, and live plants.
10. Is living in a storage unit legal?
No. You cannot live in a storage unit as it is illegal to do so. You can also not sleep in a storage unit either.
Other Valuable Moving Resources
Have a look at these additional moving articles to help you make the best decisions.
- What to know about shipping a car – when you are relocated out of state one of the decisions you’ll need to make is whether to drive your car to your new destination or have it shipped. Many people opt for a car shipping company to get their vehicle moved. See everything you need to know about auto transport including the best car shipping companies.
- How much is a Home Depot truck rental – if you are doing a local move, one of the better options could be renting a truck from Home Depot. See what you need to know including information on rental pricing.
- Best truck rental companies – In addition to Home Depot there are quite a few other excellent moving truck rental companies. See a complete review of the truck rental firms worth considering.
- Who are the best moving companies – when moving long-distance it is vital to have a top-notch mover. In the review, you’ll get an understanding of some of the best movers worth interviewing.
Final Thoughts
Picking a self-storage facility when moving will be a smart decision when you have an abundance of “stuff” in your home. Just be sure to do your due diligence before choosing a company. Hopefully, you have found the information useful and can now pick a storage unit that fits your needs.
About the author: The above Real Estate information on the best self-storage facilities was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of many Metrowest towns for the last 34+ Years.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southboro, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.
