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Storage unit cost calculator

This calculator estimates what a storage unit will cost per month and over twelve months, based on unit size, market type, climate control and rental length. It includes the administration fee, lock and insurance that are added at move-in, and the rate increase most US operators apply within the first year.

  • Monthly and 12-month totals
  • Includes move-in fees
  • Ranges reviewed August 2026
Choose your options to see an estimated range.

What the estimate includes

ComponentTypical amountNotes
Administration fee$20–$30, one timeCharged at move-in by most national operators. Occasionally waived if you ask.
Lock$10–$25, one timeDisc locks are usually required. You can bring your own if it meets the spec.
Insurance or protection plan$8–$35 per monthUsually mandatory. Homeowner or renter policies often already cover off-site storage — check before buying theirs.
Late fee$15–$25 plus 10%Applied quickly, often after five days.
Lien or auction fee$50–$250After extended non-payment. Storage liens are enforced faster than most people expect.

Most published storage prices are the advertised monthly rate alone. The twelve-month figure here is the number worth comparing between facilities, because that is where the differences actually show up. Full breakdown of storage fees.

Why this is a range and not a price

Self-storage is priced dynamically — by facility, by occupancy, week to week. A single national number for a 10x10 would be wrong for almost everyone reading it.

Publisher-maintained national planning ranges for standard drive-up or interior units, month-to-month, before promotions, taxes and fees. They are not a reproducible market index or a facility quote. Market-type multipliers sketch the regional spread. We do not publish ZIP-code prices, because a stale precise figure is worse than an honest range. Method and review cycle on the methodology page.

For the one cost figure here that comes from outside this site, see the /data/storage-cost-index/ — an archived federal price series showing how far storage and moving costs have moved since 2017. It is the honest anchor under these ranges, and it is also where their limits are set out.

How far the market moves the same unit

Market type is the single largest input in this calculator — larger than climate control, larger than duration. The same 10×10 across the six market types the tool models:

Monthly range for one 10x10 unit across six market types Northeast metro (NYC, Boston): $122–$342 per month. West Coast metro (SF, LA, Seattle): $117–$333 per month. Southern metro (Atlanta, Dallas, Miami): $86–$225 per month. Midwest metro (Chicago, Minneapolis): $90–$234 per month. Suburban, most states: $77–$198 per month. Rural and small town: $54–$162 per month. Northeast metro $122–$342 West Coast metro $117–$333 Southern metro $86–$225 Midwest metro $90–$234 Suburban, most states $77–$198 Rural and small town $54–$162
The national reference range for a 10×10 scaled by market type. A rural unit and a Northeast metro unit are not the same product at a different price — they are different markets, and no single national figure describes both.
Twelve months of rent by unit size, before fees 5x5: $480 to $900 over twelve months. 5x10: $660 to $1320 over twelve months. 5x15: $900 to $1680 over twelve months. 10x10: $1080 to $2160 over twelve months. 10x15: $1500 to $2880 over twelve months. 10x20: $1920 to $3720 over twelve months. 10x25: $2340 to $4440 over twelve months. 10x30: $2700 to $5280 over twelve months. 5×5 $480–$900 5×10 $660–$1,320 5×15 $900–$1,680 10×10 $1,080–$2,160 10×15 $1,500–$2,880 10×20 $1,920–$3,720 10×25 $2,340–$4,440 10×30 $2,700–$5,280
Twelve months of rent alone, at the national standard range. This is the figure worth comparing between facilities — a $15 monthly difference is $180 a year, which outweighs almost every move-in promotion.

Assumptions and limitations

The estimate applies dated national list-price ranges to broad market multipliers. It is not a facility quote and cannot account for live occupancy, taxes, exact insurance requirements, promotions, access hours or a rate change outside the modeled first-year increase. Confirm the full move-in and renewal terms with the facility before renting.

Cost by size, for reference

SizeStandardClimate-controlledPer sq ft
5×5$40–$75$55–$95$2.30
5×10$55–$110$70–$140$1.65
5×15$75–$140$95–$175$1.43
10×10$90–$180$115–$230$1.35
10×15$125–$240$155–$300$1.22
10×20$160–$310$195–$380$1.18
10×25$195–$370$235–$450$1.13
10×30$225–$440$270–$530$1.11

Get the size right first

How much will a storage unit cost me in total?

For a 10x10 in a suburban market: roughly $90–$180 per month, plus $30–$55 in one-time move-in charges and $8–$35 per month for protection if required. Before tax or rate increases, twelve months totals about $1206–$2635.

Does this include tax?

No. Sales tax on storage rent varies by state and is not included in these ranges. Add it where your state applies it.

Are these prices quotes?

No. They are national reference ranges compiled from published list prices and scaled by market type. Always confirm with the facility.