Who Uses Self Storage? A Complete Guide to Typical Customers

Self storage is used by families, renters, students, businesses, and travelers for cost savings, convenience, and security. From downsizing and relocations to e-commerce inventory, storage offers flexible solutions for nearly every lifestyle.

Not long ago, self storage was seen as a temporary fix, something you used between apartments or during a move. Today, it’s something much bigger. As living spaces shrink, business needs grow, and life becomes more mobile, storage units have turned into an everyday necessity.

Across cities, suburbs, and small towns, more people are relying on off-site storage to create room where there isn’t any. But the reasons they do it, and the types of people doing it are more diverse than ever.

This guide breaks down the wide range of customers turning to self storage, from individuals managing home clutter to businesses rethinking their operational space.

Why People Use Self Storage Units

Self storage is used for a mix of practical and financial reasons, and anyone new to it can benefit from an overview of self storage basics. Units give people more options when facing downsizing, relocating, or simply running out of space at home.

With over 52,301 facilities across the United States generating $39 billion in revenue in 2023, the industry continues to grow at an unprecedented pace. Units give people more options when facing downsizing, relocating, or simply running out of space at home.

The flexibility of choosing between climate-controlled storage and non-climate-controlled units also makes it adaptable for almost every situation.

Cost Savings vs. Larger Housing

Renting a storage unit is often cheaper than upgrading to a larger house or apartment. Americans rent storage units to offset rising housing costs, particularly in cities where square feet come at a premium. Instead of paying hundreds more each month for rent or mortgage, families and renters can store items affordably.

A standard 10×10 climate-controlled unit costs about $128/month in 2023 (Yardi Matrix).
Families also find storage cheaper than renting a second garage, especially in suburbs where parking rules or HOA restrictions limit options.
For students and young professionals, the ability to share a small apartment while storing extra furniture or appliances is often the difference between affordability and financial strain.

This is why many survey respondents said self-storage was the most cost-effective way to hold onto valuable belongings without stretching their housing budgets.

Convenience and Accessibility

Beyond cost savings, convenience plays a huge role. Most facilities are designed to fit modern lifestyles where people need flexibility, making it important to know how to choose the right self storage facility for your needs. Storage renters appreciate being able to access their belongings quickly and without hassle.

Extended hours and, in some locations, 24/7 access.
Drive-up access so heavy items can be loaded directly from vehicles.
Online account management and autopay for easier billing.
The ability to rent larger units for temporary surges in storage demand and then shrink down to smaller ones later.

Adding climate-controlled storage makes it easier to keep sensitive items safe, from artwork and electronics to photographs and wooden furniture. These amenities ensure that storage doesn’t just add space it preserves quality.

Security and Peace of Mind

Another reason people are likely to use self storage is the security it offers compared to leaving items at home or in vehicles. Families, students, and businesses all value knowing their possessions are safe.

Facilities often include 24/7 video surveillance, secure gates, individual alarms, and coded access.
Climate-controlled spaces also protect items from environmental risks like humidity, extreme heat, or cold.
Insurance options add another layer of reassurance for renters storing valuables or business assets, but self storage insurance cost and coverage remain common concerns.

For many survey respondents, security and peace of mind ranked just as important as cost. Self-storage has become more than a spare room; it’s trusted protection for belongings that matter.

Homeowners and Renters Who Use Self Storage

Both homeowners and renters rely on storage, but often for very different reasons. The overlap, however, comes down to one thing: needing more room.

Downsizing or Relocating Families

Families moving into smaller homes often face clutter and the challenge of deciding what stays and what goes. Self-storage helps ease this process by offering temporary or long-term space.

Climate-controlled storage keeps heirlooms, photographs, and furniture in good condition.
Storage also supports families going through relocations, offering time to adjust before moving everything into the new home.
Many baby boomers downsizing from large family houses rent storage to hold onto belongings for children or grandchildren.

In addition, StorageCafe surveys show that downsizing is one of the top three reasons cited by Americans for renting storage, particularly among older generations.

Apartment Renters with Limited Space

Urban renters face an even greater challenge smaller apartments with no garages, attics, or basements. Storage offers an affordable way to expand their living area without breaking the budget.

Commonly stored items include:

Seasonal clothing like winter coats or sports uniforms.
Sporting equipment such as bikes, skis, or kayaks.
Holiday decorations that only come out once or twice a year.
Bulky appliances are not needed year-round.

For renters, self-storage reduces stress, prevents clutter, and makes space at home more livable. Instead of paying for a larger unit, they can simply add a storage unit nearby.

Students Using Self-Storage Between Semesters

Students are a growing group of storage renters, particularly in university towns where dorms and apartments are temporary. Their needs are typically short-term but repeat every semester or summer.

In fact, over 55% of college students rent self-storage or have done so, according to recent NSA Storage research. This highlights just how common temporary storage solutions have become for this demographic.

International and Out-of-State Students

For international and out-of-state students, the challenge of moving belongings long distances makes self-storage the most logical choice. Instead of shipping furniture and supplies home, they can store items near campus for a few months.

Beds, dressers, and desks are common.
Clothing and accessories fill up medium units.
Musical instruments and sports equipment benefit from climate-controlled storage.

For this group, storage is not just about saving money, it’s about reducing stress and making transitions smoother, showing exactly who tends to use self storage most often.

Summer Break Demand Spikes

Each summer, demand spikes as students head home. This surge is especially visible among Gen Z renters, who are balancing rising tuition, housing costs, and frequent relocations. Survey respondents in StorageCafe’s data show:

About 29% store furniture.
About 38% store clothing and accessories.
20% store other goods.

Durations typically range from 2–6 months, with non-climate-controlled units often used for furniture and climate-controlled for delicate items.

Businesses That Rely on Self Storage for Inventory

Businesses form a major share of the self-storage market. They benefit from affordable, flexible space without needing long commercial leases or expensive warehouses. Survey respondents in StorageCafe reports consistently highlight storage as a practical tool for growth.

Contractors and Trades (Tools, Equipment)

Contractors, electricians, plumbers, and landscapers often need secure places for bulky tools and materials. Instead of leaving equipment in trucks or garages, they rent units with drive-up access.

Non-climate-controlled units are common for durable tools, wood, and building supplies.
Drive-up storage makes it easier to load and unload daily equipment.
Some businesses rent multiple units to separate materials by project.

For trades, storage improves efficiency by centralizing inventory and reducing clutter at job sites.

Medical, Legal, and Document Storage

Medical and legal professionals deal with sensitive files that require compliance and safe storage. Office space for archives is costly, making climate-controlled storage an attractive alternative.

Patient files, X-rays, and medical records stay protected from humidity.
Legal case documents, evidence, and tax records can be preserved for years.
Business owners gain peace of mind knowing they’re meeting regulations without overspending.

Here, storage doesn’t just save space, it supports professional responsibility.

Real Estate Staging and Furniture Storage

Real estate agents and property managers rely on storage for staging homes. Rotating décor, appliances, and furniture in and out of units allows them to present homes in their best light.

Storage provides temporary holding areas for furniture sets.
Agents often rent larger units to keep multiple staging kits ready.
Climate control ensures furniture doesn’t warp or get damaged between showings.

The flexibility directly affects sales outcomes, proving that storage can be a business asset as much as a convenience.

Small Business Owners and Startups

Startups, freelancers, and small business owners often turn to self-storage as an affordable alternative to warehouses. Instead of committing to a long lease, they can scale their storage size as needed.

Entrepreneurs who currently rent storage use it to hold excess stock, trade show materials, or office supplies.
Lease terms allow them to expand or shrink operations quickly.
Units are also used to separate personal space from business inventory.

For early-stage businesses, self-storage acts as a flexible extension of the office.

E-commerce Sellers and Seasonal Inventory

The growth of online sales has boosted demand from e-commerce sellers. Seasonal fluctuations mean they often need storage for only part of the year.

Holiday inventory like electronics, décor, and clothing can fill units.
Climate-controlled spaces protect sensitive stock such as home appliances or electronics.
Sellers avoid the high costs of warehousing while staying flexible with demand.

StorageCafe data shows that e-commerce sellers are more likely to use self-storage than traditional retail, especially during holiday surges.

Military Members and Frequent Travelers Using Self Storage

Military personnel and frequent travelers often face unique challenges when it comes to managing their belongings. Frequent relocations, deployments, and extended periods away from home make it impractical to carry everything or to leave it unprotected.

Why Military Members Use Storage

Military families move every few years, often with little notice. During deployments or Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves, they need reliable places to store household goods, vehicles, and personal items without committing to long-term leases or costly full-service movers.

Key storage benefits for military members include:

Short-Term Flexibility: Month-to-month rentals match the unpredictability of military schedules.
Military Discounts: Many facilities near bases offer reduced rates or first-month promotions for active-duty personnel.
Vehicle Storage: Secure outdoor or indoor storage ensures cars, trucks, and motorcycles remain safe during extended absences.
Climate-Controlled Units: Ideal for uniforms, documents, electronics, and sentimental items that need protection from heat or humidity.

Why Frequent Travelers and Digital Nomads Use Storage

Frequent travelers, especially remote workers, contractors, and digital nomads, value convenience, accessibility, and digital management tools. They may not have a permanent address but still need a secure location to store essentials, business equipment, or sentimental belongings.

Top storage features for travelers include:

Remote Account Access: Online billing, autopay, and digital lease management simplify the process from anywhere in the world.
Compact Units for Minimalists: 5×5 or 5×10 units can hold clothes, documents, camping gear, or tech equipment.
Vehicle Storage: A safe place for a personal vehicle while flying between destinations or working abroad.
Security and Peace of Mind: Travelers trust storage facilities to safeguard items while they explore the world without worrying about theft or damage.

To help determine what storage option fits best, here’s a breakdown of common unit sizes and how they meet the needs of military members and frequent travelers:

Unit Size	What It Fits	Ideal For
5×5	Boxes, small furniture, electronics, uniforms, personal items	Travelers, short deployments
10×10	One-bedroom apartment’s worth of items	Mid-length assignments, digital nomads
10×20	Full household goods or vehicle	Long deployments, PCS moves
Outdoor/Indoor Vehicle Storage	Cars, trucks, motorcycles, trailers	Long-term absence from home

Who Uses Self Storage for Vehicles, RVs, and Boats

As driveways shrink, garages fill, and HOA restrictions tighten, self storage has become an essential solution for owners of vehicles, RVs, and boats. This segment of the industry has grown rapidly in recent years, serving everyone from daily commuters to recreational travelers and collectors of high-value vehicles.

Whether you’re trying to reclaim your home driveway, comply with neighborhood rules, or simply protect your investment, storage facilities offer a secure, scalable, and accessible option.

Seasonal Storage: Protecting Recreational Vehicles in the Off-Season

One of the most common reasons people rent vehicle storage is seasonality. Many vehicles are only used for part of the year, and leaving them outside through months of disuse can lead to premature wear, damage, or even fines.

Common seasonal storage patterns include:

RVs and Campervans: Often stored from late fall through spring to avoid snow, freezing temperatures, and UV damage.
Boats and Jet Skis: Kept in storage after summer ends, especially in colder climates where marinas close or lakes freeze.
Motorcycles and ATVs: Stored during winter or rainy seasons when riding becomes less frequent or unsafe.
Snowmobiles: Housed during warmer months when not in use, often in shared units with trailers or gear.

By moving these vehicles into secure storage during the off-season, owners reduce clutter at home, lower the risk of vandalism or weather-related damage, and prolong the lifespan of their equipment.

Indoor vs. Outdoor Parking Options

Facilities offer a range of vehicle storage choices, sparking the common comparison of whether indoor or outdoor self storage works better for different budgets and needs.

Here’s how the main options compare:

Parking Option	Features	Best Suited For
Outdoor Parking	Uncovered, open-air spaces within a secure gated facility. Most affordable option, often with wide aisles.	Budget-conscious renters storing cars, boats, or trailers short-term.
Covered Parking	Spaces under a roofed canopy that protect from sun, rain, and hail. Moderate pricing.	RVs, boats, and vehicles stored seasonally or needing light weather protection.
Indoor Parking	Fully enclosed units or garages. Often climate-controlled, with enhanced security. Higher cost.	Classic cars, high-value RVs, or sensitive vehicles needing full protection.

As more neighborhoods and HOAs impose parking restrictions on driveways and streets, demand for off-site storage continues to rise. Self-storage offers a secure and adaptable alternative, whether you’re parking a weekend trailer, storing a jet ski for winter, or protecting a prized classic car.

Each option provides flexibility in lease terms and access, helping vehicle owners choose what works best for their schedule, budget, and storage needs.

Special Situations: Renovations, Life Transitions, and Emergencies

Life events often create urgent needs for extra storage space. Self storage has grown in popularity because it provides flexible solutions during unpredictable times when homes or offices cannot accommodate everything.

Renovations

During remodeling projects, families often move furniture, artwork, and appliances into storage to protect them from dust, debris, and accidental damage.

Climate-controlled units are especially important for wood furniture, electronics, and other sensitive items that could be ruined by humidity. Renting a unit for the duration of the project keeps the home functional and safe while work is underway.

Life Transitions

Major changes such as divorce, retirement, or children moving out often leave people with more belongings than they can manage immediately. Storage units provide breathing room and time to make decisions at a manageable pace.

Many renters in these situations keep units long term to preserve family heirlooms, documents, or larger pieces of furniture that don’t fit in smaller or downsized housing.

Emergencies

Sudden events like natural disasters, relocations, or family emergencies can require quick action. Storage facilities offer secure, short-notice rentals that give people a safe place for their possessions when stability is uncertain. For many, this flexibility provides peace of mind during otherwise stressful transitions.

Survey responses consistently show that renovations, family changes, and emergencies rank among the most common reasons for renting storage. These situations highlight why self storage is more than just a convenience, it’s a vital service that adapts to life’s unexpected challenges.

Demographics and Lifestyle Trends in Self Storage Use

Shifts in demographics and lifestyle choices continue to reshape the self storage industry. Different age groups and living arrangements bring unique needs for extra space.

Students are a growing group of storage renters, particularly in university towns where dorms and apartments are temporary. Their needs are typically short-term but repeat every semester or summer. Yardi Matrix data shows that between 2015 and 2025, the average apartment size dropped from 929 square feet to 917 square feet, a modest 1.3% decline driven by the increasing supply of smaller apartments.

Millennials and Urban Apartment Dwellers

Millennials are one of the largest groups who currently rent a storage unit. With smaller apartments and rising housing costs, they are more likely than older generations to rent storage for overflow belongings.

Sports gear, bikes, seasonal clothing, and décor are commonly stored.
Climate-controlled storage is often preferred for electronics and home appliances.

According to Yardi Matrix data, this generation is driving much of the recent growth in metropolitan markets, showing sustained interest in self storage among younger adults.

Baby Boomers Downsizing

Baby boomers represent another key group. As they move from family houses into smaller homes, many Americans use self storage to hold heirlooms, collectibles, and furniture they aren’t ready to part with. Downsizing is one of the leading reasons cited in StorageCafe surveys.

Many choose storage as a long-term solution, not just temporary relief. In fact, boomers are often willing to sign longer rental agreements and rent self storage in larger units to preserve family belongings for the next generation.

Remote Workers and Digital Nomads

Remote work has created new storage solutions for professionals. Freelancers and digital nomads often rely on storage to keep office equipment, files, and supplies safe while they travel or work from compact living spaces.

Portable desks, monitors, and printers are frequently stored between moves. Lease flexibility makes it easy to expand or shrink storage depending on travel plans. This group values 24/7 access and online management more than other demographics, and their reliance shows how the self storage market is adapting to modern lifestyles.

Generational differences are clear: Gen Z students often rent storage during semester breaks, Gen X families use it during relocations or caregiving, while millennials and boomers remain the largest group of self storage users shaping long-term demand.

Final Thoughts: Understanding Who Uses Self Storage the Most

Self storage serves a wide variety of people and businesses across the U.S. Homeowners, renters, students, and companies all use it for different reasons, from moving to managing inventory. The industry continues to grow because it provides flexible and reliable storage solutions for nearly every lifestyle.

Choosing the right storage unit size, whether a small 5×5 locker or a large 10×30 space, makes it easier to manage belongings. Features like climate control, vehicle parking, and advanced security add value for today’s self storage users. With more Americans using self storage each year, the market shows no sign of slowing down.

At RecNation, we understand how important secure, flexible storage is for both families and businesses. That’s why our self storage facilities are built to handle everything combining 24/7 access, advanced surveillance, and climate-controlled options. RecNation provides dependable, customer-focused storage solutions designed to give you peace of mind no matter what stage of life you’re in

Frequently Asked Questions

What is self storage, and how does it work?

Self storage lets you rent a secure unit for personal or business items. You choose a size and term, then access your unit during posted hours.

Why do people use self storage?

People use it for cost savings, convenience, and security. It helps during moves, renovations, and space constraints at home or work.

What types of items can I store in a self storage unit?

Most household goods and business inventory are acceptable. Items like furniture, documents, and sports gear are common.

Are self storage units climate-controlled?

Many facilities offer climate control to manage temperature and humidity. It is recommended for electronics, artwork, and sensitive materials.

How do I choose the right self storage unit size?

Match unit size to your item list and measurements. Facility staff can help estimate a fit from 5×5 to 10×30.

Can I store my vehicle, RV, or boat in a self storage facility?

Yes, many locations offer indoor, outdoor, or covered parking. Choose based on budget, weather, and security needs.