Short answer
Climate-controlled units cost more than standard units of the same size; the most recent industry figure we could verify put the gap at about 28% for a 10x10, using 2015 data. Prices vary a lot by city, floor and unit size. Compare quotes for the same size unit at two or three facilities.
It costs more, and the gap depends heavily on your market. Heating, cooling and drying a building costs the operator money every month, and indoor buildings cost more to build than rows of drive-up units.
We don’t yet have current, verified price data of our own, so this page is honest about what is known and what isn’t.
The one industry figure we could verify
The Self Storage Association’s 2015 fact sheet gives average revenue per square foot for the second quarter of 2015: $1.25 for a standard 10x10 unit and $1.60 for a climate-controlled 10x10.
- $1.25Per sq ft, standard 10x10, Q2 2015
- $1.60Per sq ft, climate-controlled 10x10, Q2 2015
- 28%Difference between the two
Two cautions. These are averages of what facilities earned, not a quote you’ll be given. And the figures are from 2015, so today’s prices will be different. The percentage gap is the more useful part.
The SSA also notes cost is the question renters ask most. An article on its site says setpoints are the second most asked question, “first being cost.”
[PRICE DATA NEEDED]
This section needs current prices for standard and climate-controlled units, by size and by city, from a source we can verify. Suggested table: unit size (5x5, 5x10, 10x10, 10x15, 10x20) by median monthly price, standard vs. climate-controlled, for our largest markets.
What changes the price
Even without current numbers, the drivers are clear:
- City. Rents follow local real estate. A unit in a dense city costs more than the same unit in a small town.
- Size. Larger units cost more in total. Ask for the price per square foot to compare sizes fairly.
- Floor and access. Some facilities charge more for ground-floor units and units near the loading door. Ask whether an upper floor is cheaper.
- Indoor vs. drive-up. Fully indoor buildings cost more to build and run.
- Promotions. Many facilities discount the first month. Ask what the rate becomes afterward.
How to compare prices fairly
- Compare the same size. A 10x10 climate-controlled unit vs. a 10x10 standard unit, at the same facility if possible.
- Ask for the regular rate, not just the move-in special, and how often rents go up.
- Ask about fees. Admin fees, lock purchases and required insurance all add to the monthly cost.
- Check if you can go smaller. Packing tightly in a smaller climate-controlled unit may cost less than a large standard one.
Is the premium worth paying?
For wood furniture, photos, documents and electronics stored through a hot or freezing season, it usually is. See whether climate-controlled storage is worth it for a quick way to decide.
To get quotes, start with a big market where you can compare several facilities, such as climate-controlled storage in Austin, and call two or three listings for the same unit size.