Atlanta Self Storage Market Statistics:
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. Atlanta offers plenty of self storage options to cater to all needs and budgets.
How much does a storage unit cost in Atlanta, GA?
Currently, the average cost of a 10x10 storage unit in Atlanta is $140/month, a decrease of 6% compared to last year. Nationally, self storage street rates for 10×10 non-climate-controlled units saw a 4.6% year-over-year decrease, registering an average of $124 in October, 2023.
Atlanta self storage prices by unit size
Besides the standard 10x10 unit, the Atlanta 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 Atlanta rents for $55, while a 5x10 unit would cost $83/month. Average street rates for a 10x20 unit stand at $233/month. Non-climate-controlled units typically come with lower price tags than their climate-controlled counterparts of the same size.
| Unit Size | Avg. Street Rate |
|---|---|
| 5x5 | $55 |
| 5x10 | $83 |
| 10x10 | $140 |
| 10x15 | $174 |
| 10x20 | $233 |
| 10x30 | $316 |
| Unit Size | Avg. Street Rate |
|---|---|
| 5x5 | $58 |
| 5x10 | $91 |
| 10x10 | $143 |
| 10x15 | $191 |
| 10x20 | $258 |
| 10x30 | $377 |
* Average monthly rates for Atlanta in October 2023.
Average storage unit cost in Atlanta 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 Atlanta storage units in Adair Park and Bolton, where the standard self storage unit goes for $125/mo. on average, in Colonial Hills, where renters pay $137/mo. on average, and in Jefferson Park, where the average street rates hover around $142/mo.
If you’re looking for other great deals, check out self storage listings, and their average street rates, in Oak Ridge ($145) and Avalon ($161).
Other neighborhoods, on the other hand, come with higher street rates. The most expensive neighborhood in Atlanta is Sweet Auburn with a monthly average street rate of $328, followed by Martin Manor.
| # | Neighborhood | Average Street Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adair Park | $125 |
| 2 | Bolton | $125 |
| 3 | Colonial Hills | $137 |
| 4 | Jefferson Park | $142 |
| 5 | Oak Ridge | $145 |
| # | Neighborhood | Average Street Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweet Auburn | $328 |
| 2 | Martin Manor | $296 |
| 3 | Virginia Highland | $277 |
| 4 | Blandtown | $239 |
| 5 | Mercer University | $237 |
Compare average storage prices in Atlanta neighborhoods
Want to find the best self storage deals? Browse listings in your preferred Atlanta neighborhoods and Atlanta Zip Codes for more details on what’s available and compare rent prices, unit sizes and amenities.
How Atlanta, GA, Self Storage Compares With Other Cities
How self storage costs in Atlanta compare to prices in other nearby cities
Check out the table below to see how self storage in Atlanta compares rent-wise to other places within a 50-mile radius.
| # | City | Average Street Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sandy Springs, GA | $215 |
| 2 | Chamblee, GA | $156 |
| 3 | Atlanta, GA | $140 |
| 4 | East Point, GA | $129 |
| 5 | Smyrna, GA | $121 |
| 6 | Decatur, GA | $112 |
| 7 | Lithia Springs, GA | $107 |
| 8 | College Park, GA | $104 |
| 9 | Mableton, GA | $92 |
| 10 | Austell, GA | $91 |
Average street rates for non-climate-controlled 10x10 units for October 2023.
How self storage costs in Atlanta compare to rates in other sought-after cities in the US
Check out the table below to see how self storage rent in Atlanta compares to other popular cities in the US.
| # | City | Average Street Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New York City, NY | $252 |
| 2 | Atlanta, GA | $140 |
| 3 | Las Vegas, NV | $120 |
| 4 | Phoenix, AZ | $119 |
| 5 | Austin, TX | $115 |
| 6 | Dallas, TX | $111 |
| 7 | Tucson, AZ | $111 |
| 8 | San Antonio, TX | $109 |
| 9 | Houston, TX | $94 |
| 10 | Indianapolis, IN | $84 |
Average street rates for non-climate-controlled 10x10 units for October 2023.
Self storage market size in Atlanta, GA
Atlanta self storage market statistics
| No. of self storage units | approx. 7,132 |
| No. of self storage facilities | 73 |
| Local self storage inventory (sq. ft.) | 5,436,178 |
| Self storage sq. ft. per capita | 4.4 |
| New self storage facilities set for delivery in 2023 | 1 |
| New self storage supply set for delivery in 2023 (sq. ft.) | 98,850 |
| Average self storage rent in Atlanta for a standard 10x10 unit | $140 |
Atlanta self storage construction trends
The self storage sector has maintained an active development pipeline in recent years. In 2022 alone, about 73,155 square feet of self storage space came online in Atlanta, representing 1.4% of the existing inventory. Compared to the year before, self storage inventory in Atlanta has increased by 1.4%.
Currently, there are 73 self storage facilities and approx. 7,132 storage units in Atlanta. The local inventory encompasses 5,436,178 square feet of storage space, offering 4.4 square feet per capita.
A total of 98,850 square feet of self storage space is projected for completion in 2023, an increase of 35.1% compared to last year.
What’s driving demand for self storage?
Quick overview of the Atlanta housing market
| Total no. of households | 221,171 |
| Y-o-y change in no. of households | 7.2% |
| Renter households in Atlanta | 121,189 |
| Homeowner households in Atlanta | 99,982 |
| Households with mortgages in Atlanta | 70,088 |
| Median number of rooms (all housing units) | 4.7 |
| Average apartment size (sq. ft.) | 969 |
| Average home size (sq. ft.) | 1,630 |
| Average apartment rent | $1,852 |
| Median home value | $370,300 |
| Working from home (% of total working population) | 8.6% |
Self storage for residential clients: key facts and figures about the Atlanta 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 Atlanta 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.
Atlanta is home to 121,189 renters and 99,982 homeowners. The average apartment size in Atlanta is 969 sq. ft. and the average Atlanta home size is 1,630 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 Atlanta 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 Atlanta 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.
Expert insights on Atlanta's self storage market
The self storage industry in Atlanta, GA, is subject to various socio-economic factors and to the market dynamics of demand and supply. Austin McLeod, Associate Vice President with Matthews Real Estate Investment Services, weighs in on the state of the industry:
Austin McLeod
Associate Vice President
Matthews Real Estate Investment Services
Which factors underpin the local boom of self storage development in the past few years?
Ultimately job growth and population growth are going to drive self storage development in a market like Atlanta. Developers see the consistent job creation throughout the MSA, along with positive growth trends in population for several consecutive years, and know this is a good market to bet on long-term.
Furthermore, average occupancy across the metro area remains high, and rental rates continue to climb, which more often than not is seen as a green light to build additional storage.
Where does local demand for self storage come from?
Demand for storage space in Atlanta is largely driven by the high percentage of renters in the city — with roughly 35% of the population renting homes or apartments.
With typically less space in an apartment or rental home for excess items, along with a higher turnover rate associated with renters (more people moving annually), these factors create strong demand for self storage in the market and have led to the asset's strong performance over the years.
How do you envision the future of the local self storage industry, in the medium- and long-term?
I see the market continuing to take on more supply in the short- and long-term, making rental rate growth lag behind other top metros. However, due to the consistent population growth and healthy demand for storage in the MSA, occupancy should remain stable and present a strong opportunity for long-term investors in the years to come.
Expert insights on Atlanta's self storage market
The self storage industry in Atlanta, GA, is subject to various socio-economic factors and to the market dynamics of demand and supply. Austin McLeod, Associate Vice President with Matthews Real Estate Investment Services, weighs in on the state of the industry:
Austin McLeod
Associate Vice President
Matthews Real Estate Investment Services
Which factors underpin the local boom of self storage development in the past few years?
Ultimately job growth and population growth are going to drive self storage development in a market like Atlanta. Developers see the consistent job creation throughout the MSA, along with positive growth trends in population for several consecutive years, and know this is a good market to bet on long-term.
Furthermore, average occupancy across the metro area remains high, and rental rates continue to climb, which more often than not is seen as a green light to build additional storage.
Where does local demand for self storage come from?
Demand for storage space in Atlanta is largely driven by the high percentage of renters in the city — with roughly 35% of the population renting homes or apartments.
With typically less space in an apartment or rental home for excess items, along with a higher turnover rate associated with renters (more people moving annually), these factors create strong demand for self storage in the market and have led to the asset's strong performance over the years.
How do you envision the future of the local self storage industry, in the medium- and long-term?
I see the market continuing to take on more supply in the short- and long-term, making rental rate growth lag behind other top metros. However, due to the consistent population growth and healthy demand for storage in the MSA, occupancy should remain stable and present a strong opportunity for long-term investors in the years to come.
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 nearly 27,000 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.