Putting furniture into storage is a great option if you are renovating your home, downsizing, or moving to a smaller space.
Wheater is the situation that leads you to the need for extra space, we understand that putting furniture into storage can be a daunting task, especially when you're not sure where to start or how much it will cost.
With our experience helping countless customers find the perfect solution for their needs, we know that the cost of furniture storage can vary depending on a number of factors, such as the size of the unit, the length of time you need it, and the location of the facility.
That’s why we're here to guide you through the process of furniture storage, providing you with insightful advice to make storage decisions that align with your needs and budget.
Key Takeaways
Average Furniture Storage Costs: Discover the US average costs for storage units. See the monthly price estimate for different sizes options.
Factors Affecting Costs: Furniture storage expenses hinge on storage duration, item volume, and service requirements. These considerations shape your budget.
Tips For Save Money: Disassemble furniture, declutter, and use proper packing to save money and space while safeguarding your items.
Full-Service Benefits: Opt for full-service storage for seamless, expert handling from packing to delivery, ensuring your furniture's safety and care.
Move Planning: If a move is on your horizon, grasp furniture storage costs to align choices with budget and needs.
Pricing for Furniture Storage
There are many storage options that can fit your needs and budget – and we know that choosing the appropriate unit size is crucial. That's why we recommend calculating the square footage of your apartment – a step we've seen many of our clients find helpful – to determine the ideal unit size.
If you are looking to simply put individual household items away, and do not require an entire unit, you also have smaller sizing options.
The cost of putting furniture in storage can range widely depending on what you are looking for. Be sure to get a cost estimate from a local moving company to better understand how much your storage unit will be. For your reference, the national average for storage unit costs are:
5X5-foot unit: $40 - $50 per month
10X15-foot unit: $75 - $140 per month
10X15-foot unit (climate-controlled): $115 - $150 per month
10X20-foot unit: $95 - $155 per month
10X20-foot unit (climate-controlled): $170 - $180 per month
20X20-foot unit: $225 per month
Drawing from our experience, we've seen that the furniture storage costs for a typical 3-bedroom house break down as follows:
5X10 unit: $35 - $60 per month; suitable for items like a queen bed, dresser, and TV
10X10 unit: $80 - $160 per month; capable of storing the contents of 2 bedrooms
10X15 unit: $100 - $200 per month; ideal for the contents of 3 bedrooms, even accommodating a piano
10X20 unit: $120 - $280 per month; spacious enough for items from a 2-3 bedroom house, possibly even a car
Keep in mind that the cost of storage services can depend on the additional services you require. If you want to hire professional movers to assist with the disassembly of your furniture (disassembly is often necessary to help you fit your household goods into the unit).
You can also hire local movers to assist with packing services, especially if you are no longer in the apartment and do not have plans to return.
What Affects Furniture Storage Prices?
The duration of storage, the volume of items, and the specific services needed are key elements that shape the overall cost of furniture storage.
For instance, we recently assisted a client who required short-term furniture storage during a home renovation. We found that the storage duration was a significant factor in their costs, as they only needed storage for a few months.
In another case, a family moving abroad needed to store an entire household's worth of furniture for an extended period. The volume of items became the primary cost influencer in this scenario, as we ensured they received a tailored plan that accommodated their larger storage needs.
To help you make the right decision, here are a few things to keep in mind when budgeting for furniture storage:
The size of the unit: The larger the unit, the more it will cost. So the amount of furniture you are storing is the main factor that will determine the price you pay.
The length of time you need the unit: Depending on the term contracts, storage facilities often give a discount to long-term customers after two months of storing their belongings.
Packing materials: You should choose superior packing materials to protect your items from dust and moisture, for example. This is particularly important for long-term storage of fabric items and furniture.
The location of the facility: The cost of storage also varies depending on the location of the unit. An option in the city center will be higher than in the suburbs, for example.
Climate control: If you need a climate-controlled unit, it will cost more than a non-climate-controlled unit.
Different Types of Storage Expenses
Typically, Portable Storage (or PODS) are the most expensive option. Portable Storage units can be useful, however, as they can be stored either at your house or at a storage facility. When choosing this option, a professional moving company will drop off a portable storage container at your house.
You have the option to fill it up and leave it at your house, or call the movers to pick up the container, load it into their moving truck and store it at their facility. This option can provide more flexibility, since you can store your own belongings.
Full-service storage is a convenient option for those looking for door-to-door service. Hiring a full-service moving company can be more efficient. Especially if you hire a packing service, this option can cut the amount of time you spend packing in half. Often, if you go this route, full-service movers can offer a flat fee option (which includes the hourly rates of the movers, as well as the costs of moving boxes, packing tape, peanuts and so on).
The most affordable option for storage can be self-storage. If you go the DIY route (and forgo hiring movers for add-ons), you will have to cover the cost of packing materials, and transportation from your home to the storage unit, as well as any other additional moving expenses (fuel costs and other extra fees). Be sure to take those costs into account.
Saving Money While Storing Furniture
Thinking about helping you save money through the process, we've compiled practical tips that can significantly impact your storage expenses.
Firstly, consider disassembling larger furniture items before storing them. This not only optimizes space within your storage unit but also reduces the risk of damage during transit and storage. Our team has witnessed clients save both money and space by simply taking this proactive step.
Secondly, a strategy we often recommend, and have seen implemented successfully, is decluttering before storage. One family, for instance, was able to significantly cut their storage costs by donating or selling unwanted furniture and items they no longer needed. This minimized the overall volume of items requiring storage, leading to a smaller storage unit requirement and subsequently lower costs.
Lastly, using appropriate packing materials is crucial. Utilizing proper packing materials like bubble wrap, furniture covers, and sturdy boxes can prevent damage during transportation and storage, ultimately saving you from potential repair or replacement costs down the line.
By considering these practical tips, you not only optimize cost-efficiency but also ensure the long-term safety and preservation of your furniture.
Advantages of Full-Service Storage
When most people think of storage units, they think of self-storage options. These solutions often allow you to drive up and access your belongings whenever you want.
But when considering furniture storage options, we highly recommend exploring the advantages of opting for full-service storage – a solution we've witnessed benefiting countless clients.
Full-service storage offers additional services, such as movers who will pack and transport your belongings to the storage unit. They also load and deliver your items to you when you want or need them.
Our years of experience have shown that this not only saves you time and effort but also ensures the safety and proper handling of your furniture, granting you peace of mind throughout the process.
Another benefit of full-service storage is spatial freedom; usually, space taken up will be accounted for in the price per item, so no one needs to pay for space they’re not using.
Self-storage users can often find themselves in a dilemma where the amount of storage they need is stuck between the size of a larger room option at a rate they’d rather not pay and a smaller room option that cannot accommodate every item they have to store. It can be aggravating to continually pay for unused, unneeded space.
When someone moves, and they need storage, it makes sense for that person to fill both needs with the same companies. There are multiple benefits to linking moving and storage besides only needing to remember one name for the two. Moving & Storage companies typically offer full service storage and they only require people pay for space used. Plus, these dual-service companies will often give generous discounts for customers who “bundle” their services together.
Planning A Move?
Storage can be a great option for those who are planning to move, but have not yet found a place to go, or are looking to start emptying out their apartment before they conduct their move.
Storage-in-transit is an option where your belongings will be stored for a temporary period of time until you arrive at your final destination. You can schedule the movers to return your belongings to you once you are at your new home and ready to unpack and settle down.
For local moves, storage units can also be helpful as a short-term solution if your old lease ends several months before your new lease and you need to vacate your old apartment before you have the keys to your new one. For a moving quote, reach out to movers in your area.
There are many options for hiring moving and storage companies -- either way, be sure to ask for a free quote in advance!
Moving soon? Get your free quote from Oz Moving & Storage.
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About the author |
Nancy Zafrani | General Manager |
Nancy Zafrani is the experienced General Manager of Oz Moving & Storage, with 30 years in the industry and a lifetime of knowledge as a New Yorker. She helped grow the company from 3 employees to 200 with 50 trucks and locations across the US. Her experience and organizational skills have led to over 500.000 successful moves. She is proud to lead a company that provides the best possible moving experience
