Des Moines Self Storage Market Statistics:

Rent Prices, Local Inventory and Development Trends (October 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. Des Moines offers plenty of self storage options to cater to all needs and budgets.

How much does a storage unit cost in Des Moines, IA?

Currently, the average cost of a 10x10 storage unit in Des Moines is $87/month, a decrease of 1.1% 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.

Des Moines self storage prices by unit size

Besides the standard 10x10 unit, the Des Moines 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 Des Moines rents for $36, while a 5x10 unit would cost $52/month. Average street rates for a 10x20 unit stand at $128/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 $36
5x10 $52
10x10 $87
10x15 $116
10x20 $128
10x30 $189
Climate-Controlled Units*
Unit Size Avg. Street Rate
5x5 $38
5x10 $64
10x10 $95
10x15 $130
10x20 $168
10x30 $214

* Average monthly rates for Des Moines in October 2023.

Average storage unit cost in Des Moines 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 Des Moines storage units in Union Park, where the standard self storage unit goes for $85/mo. on average, in Easter Lake Area, where renters pay $102/mo. on average, and in Highland Park, where the average street rates hover around $105/mo.

If you’re looking for other great deals, check out self storage listings, and their average street rates, in Fairmont Park ($107) and Prospect Park ($112).

Other neighborhoods, on the other hand, come with higher street rates. The most expensive neighborhood in Des Moines is North Des Moines with a monthly average street rate of $171, followed by Westwood.

Compare average storage prices in Des Moines neighborhoods

Neighborhood prices
Whether you'd prefer a storage unit near your home, your office or somewhere else in the city, you can compare two of your preferred neighborhoods by selecting them on the left.
Des Moines avg. rent
Neighborhood #1
Neighborhood #2

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

How Des Moines, IA, Self Storage Compares With Other Cities

How self storage costs in Des Moines compare to prices in other nearby cities

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

# City Average Street Rate
1 Johnston, IA $112
2 Clive, IA $104
3 Urbandale, IA $87
4 Des Moines, IA $87
5 Grimes, IA $86
6 Ankeny, IA $81
7 Windsor Heights, IA $80
8 West Des Moines, IA $79
9 Waukee, IA $79
10 Adel, IA $58

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

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

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

# City Average Street Rate
1 New York City, NY $252
2 Las Vegas, NV $120
3 Phoenix, AZ $119
4 Austin, TX $115
5 Dallas, TX $111
6 Tucson, AZ $111
7 San Antonio, TX $109
8 Houston, TX $94
9 Des Moines, IA $87
10 Indianapolis, IN $84

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

Self storage market size in Des Moines, IA

Des Moines self storage market statistics

No. of self storage units approx. 1,102
No. of self storage facilities 26
Local self storage inventory (sq. ft.) 1,519,943
Self storage sq. ft. per capita 4.9
New self storage facilities set for delivery in 2023 2
New self storage supply set for delivery in 2023 (sq. ft.) 126,377
Average self storage rent in Des Moines for a standard 10x10 unit $87

Des Moines self storage construction trends

The self storage sector has maintained an active development pipeline in recent years. In 2022 alone, about 166,866 square feet of self storage space came online in Des Moines, representing 11% of the existing inventory. Compared to the year before, self storage inventory in Des Moines has increased by 14%.

Currently, there are 26 self storage facilities and approx. 1,102 storage units in Des Moines. The local inventory encompasses 1,519,943 square feet of storage space, offering 4.9 square feet per capita.

A total of 126,377 square feet of self storage space is projected for completion in 2023, a decrease of 24.3% compared to last year.

What’s driving demand for self storage?

Quick overview of the Des Moines housing market

Total no. of households 86,992
Y-o-y change in no. of households 1.4%
Renter households in Des Moines 34,817
Homeowner households in Des Moines 52,175
Households with mortgages in Des Moines 36,031
Median number of rooms (all housing units) 5.1
Average apartment size (sq. ft.) 760
Average home size (sq. ft.) 1,126
Average apartment rent $1,043
Median home value $153,800
Working from home (% of total working population) 6.5%

Self storage for residential clients: key facts and figures about the Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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.

Des Moines is home to 34,817 renters and 52,175 homeowners. The average apartment size in Des Moines is 760 sq. ft. and the average Des Moines home size is 1,126 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines 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 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.