Birmingham Self Storage Market Statistics:

Rent Prices, Local Inventory and Development Trends (March 2023)

Self storage has become crucial for navigating major life events. It can be particularly useful for events such as moving, downsizing and when changes in household composition occur, as well as when engaging in home remodeling projects and organizational endeavors. Birmingham offers plenty of self storage options to cater to all needs and budgets.

How much does a storage unit cost in Birmingham, AL?

Currently, the average cost of a 10x10 storage unit in Birmingham is $98/month, a decrease of 4.9% compared to last year. Nationally, self storage street rates for 10×10 non-climate-controlled units saw a 2.3% year-over-year decrease, registering an average of $127 in March, 2023.

Birmingham self storage prices by unit size

Besides the standard 10x10 unit, the Birmingham self storage market includes several other types of units that can vary in terms of size and amenities, and naturally, price.

For instance, a 5x5 self storage unit in Birmingham rents for $40, while a 5x10 unit would cost $59/month. Average street rates for a 10x20 unit stand at $160/month. Non-climate-controlled units typically come with lower price tags than their climate-controlled counterparts of the same size.

Non-Climate-Controlled Units*
Unit Size Avg. Street Rate
5x5 $40
5x10 $59
10x10 $98
10x15 $136
10x20 $160
10x30 $207
Climate-Controlled Units*
Unit Size Avg. Street Rate
5x5 $51
5x10 $84
10x10 $131
10x15 $172
10x20 $231
10x30 $305

* Average monthly rates for Birmingham in March 2023.

Average storage unit cost in Birmingham by neighborhood

Self storage prices can vary depending on location as some neighborhoods might offer more budget-friendly self storage rates than others.

You can find cheap Birmingham storage units in North Titusville, where the standard self storage unit goes for $101/mo. on average, in Chapel Hill, where renters pay $102/mo. on average, and in Roebuck, where the average street rates hover around $104/mo.

If you’re looking for other great deals, check out self storage listings, and their average street rates, in Killough Springs ($111) and West Homewood ($119).

Other neighborhoods, on the other hand, come with higher street rates. The most expensive neighborhood in Birmingham is Bluff Park with a monthly average street rate of $235, followed by Southside Birmingham.

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Self Storage
# Neighborhood Average Street Rate
1 North Titusville $101
2 Chapel Hill $102
3 Roebuck $104
4 Killough Springs $111
5 West Homewood $119
Most Expensive Neighborhoods for Self Storage
# Neighborhood Average Street Rate
1 Bluff Park $235
2 Southside Birmingham $214
3 Lake Crest $212
4 Crestline $195
5 Green Valley $181

Compare average storage prices in Birmingham neighborhoods

Want to find the best self storage deals? Browse listings in your preferred Birmingham neighborhoods and Birmingham Zip Codes for more details on what’s available and compare rent prices, unit sizes and amenities.

How Birmingham, AL, Self Storage Compares With Other Cities

How self storage costs in Birmingham compare to prices in other nearby cities

Check out the table below to see how self storage in Birmingham compares rent-wise to other places within a 50-mile radius.

# City Average Street Rate
1 Pelham, AL $125
2 Hoover, AL $124
3 Trussville, AL $114
4 Birmingham, AL $98
5 Irondale, AL $96
6 Helena, AL $95
7 Gardendale, AL $86
8 Bessemer, AL $86
9 Jasper, AL $63
10 Pell City, AL $62

Average street rates for non-climate-controlled 10x10 units for March 2023.

How self storage costs in Birmingham compare to rates in other sought-after cities in the US

Check out the table below to see how self storage rent in Birmingham compares to other popular cities in the US.

# City Average Street Rate
1 New York City, NY $250
2 Phoenix, AZ $125
3 Austin, TX $120
4 Las Vegas, NV $119
5 Dallas, TX $117
6 Tucson, AZ $116
7 San Antonio, TX $112
8 Birmingham, AL $98
9 Houston, TX $97
10 Indianapolis, IN $88

Average street rates for non-climate-controlled 10x10 units for March 2023.

Self storage market size in Birmingham, AL

Birmingham self storage market statistics

No. of self storage units approx. 4,061
No. of self storage facilities 56
Local self storage inventory (sq. ft.) 3,599,339
Self storage sq. ft. per capita 7.1
Average self storage rent in Birmingham for a standard 10x10 unit $98

Birmingham self storage construction trends

The self storage sector has maintained an active development pipeline in recent years.

Currently, there are 56 self storage facilities and approx. 4,061 storage units in Birmingham. The local inventory encompasses 3,599,339 square feet of storage space, offering 7.1 square feet per capita.

What’s driving demand for self storage?

Quick overview of the Birmingham housing market

Total no. of households 85,521
Y-o-y change in no. of households -5.9%
Renter households in Birmingham 46,330
Homeowner households in Birmingham 39,191
Households with mortgages in Birmingham 21,733
Median number of rooms (all housing units) 5.2
Average apartment size (sq. ft.) 972
Average home size (sq. ft.) N/A
Average apartment rent $1,274
Median home value $131,900
Working from home (% of total working population) 3%

Self storage for residential clients: key facts and figures about the Birmingham housing market

Generally associated with life events, the self storage industry is equipped to respond to people with changing housing situations, whether that means moving, downsizing, welcoming a new baby, or embracing multi-generational living. Lifestyle choices are also a demand driver for self storage, including preferences for snowbirding, digital nomading and RV travelling.

Looking at the type of residential customers that the Birmingham self storage sector serves, it caters to both renters and homeowners, acting as extensions of their homes when living spaces are not big enough for the things people own.

Birmingham is home to 46,330 renters and 39,191 homeowners. The average apartment size in Birmingham is 972 sq. ft.

Self storage for business

Alongside the residential sector, self storage responds to needs arising from conducting business. Entrepreneurs and small business owners, including brick-and-mortar retailers, can turn to self storage to store their merchandise all while keeping it accessible.

Legal and medical professionals often turn to self storage as they are generally required to keep hard copies of their records. Realtors and interior designers also find self storage particularly useful for temporarily storing staging furniture. Moreover, blue collar businesses can benefit from storing their heavy equipment and supplies close to their work site.

Self storage interest: How customers search for Birmingham self storage

Interest for self storage has been growing over the last decade, as Google Trends data shows. We’ve looked at the most popular keyword used in conjunction with Birmingham self storage-related searches, "self storage", to see the latest trends in consumer search habits. June, July and August are generally the most popular months for self storage searches.

Data Source:  Google Trends

Self storage market trends in cities

Where does our data come from?

All data related to self storage was compiled by StorageCafe, an online self storage search portal featuring more than 25,000 listings across the U.S.

The self storage rental statistics on this page were sourced from our sister company, Yardi Matrix, the industry's most comprehensive market intelligence tool for investment professionals, equity investors, lenders and property managers who underwrite and manage investments in the multifamily, student housing, self storage, office and industrial sectors. Yardi Matrix maintains operational profiles for over 30,000 self storage facilities across the U.S.

Average home size data is from PropertyShark, while demographic data is from the latest U.S. Census Bureau release, the 2020 American Community Survey.