Chicago 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. Chicago offers plenty of self storage options to cater to all needs and budgets.
How much does a storage unit cost in Chicago, IL?
Currently, the average cost of a 10x10 storage unit in Chicago is $134/month, an increase of 3.1% compared to last year. Nationally, self storage street rates for 10×10 non-climate-controlled units saw a 0.8% year-over-year decrease, registering an average of $123 in May, 2025.
Chicago self storage prices by unit size
Besides the standard 10x10 unit, the Chicago 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 Chicago rents for $48, while a 5x10 unit would cost $80/month. Average street rates for a 10x20 unit stand at $239/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 | $48 |
5x10 | $80 |
10x10 | $134 |
10x15 | $180 |
10x20 | $239 |
10x30 | $338 |
Unit Size | Avg. Street Rate |
---|---|
5x5 | $51 |
5x10 | $85 |
10x10 | $144 |
10x15 | $195 |
10x20 | $268 |
10x30 | $395 |
* Average monthly rates for Chicago in May 2025.
Average storage unit cost in Chicago 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 Chicago storage units in West Englewood, where the standard self storage unit goes for $75/mo. on average, in Mount Greenwood, where renters pay $82/mo. on average, and in Pulaski Park, where the average street rates hover around $84/mo.
If you’re looking for other great deals, check out self storage listings, and their average street rates, in Chicago Lawn ($93) and North Lawndale ($94).
Other neighborhoods, on the other hand, come with higher street rates. The most expensive neighborhood in Chicago is Lakeview with a monthly average street rate of $756, followed by Belmont Gardens.
# | Neighborhood | Average Street Rate |
---|---|---|
1 | West Englewood | $75 |
2 | Mount Greenwood | $82 |
3 | Pulaski Park | $84 |
4 | Chicago Lawn | $93 |
5 | North Lawndale | $94 |
6 | Washington Heights | $102 |
7 | Bridgeport | $102 |
8 | Brighton Park | $109 |
9 | Albany Park | $111 |
10 | Kennedy Park | $113 |
# | Neighborhood | Average Street Rate |
---|---|---|
1 | Lakeview | $756 |
2 | Belmont Gardens | $340 |
3 | Ranch Triangle | $310 |
4 | Goose Island | $303 |
5 | Downtown Chicago | $301 |
6 | Uptown Chicago | $224 |
7 | Jefferson Park | $204 |
8 | Hermosa | $201 |
9 | South Loop | $191 |
10 | Pilsen | $190 |
Compare average storage prices in Chicago neighborhoods
Want to find the best self storage deals? Browse listings in your preferred Chicago neighborhoods and Chicago Zip Codes for more details on what’s available and compare rent prices, unit sizes and amenities.
How Chicago, IL, Self Storage Compares With Other Cities
How self storage costs in Chicago compare to prices in other nearby cities
Check out the table below to see how self storage in Chicago compares rent-wise to other places within a 50-mile radius.
# | City | Average Street Rate |
---|---|---|
1 | Oak Lawn, IL | $180 |
2 | Bridgeview, IL | $147 |
3 | Chicago, IL | $134 |
4 | Justice, IL | $132 |
5 | LA Grange, IL | $130 |
6 | Broadview, IL | $125 |
7 | River Grove, IL | $124 |
8 | Burbank, IL | $123 |
9 | Cicero, IL | $121 |
10 | Bellwood, IL | $109 |
Average street rates for non-climate-controlled 10x10 units for May 2025.
How self storage costs in Chicago compare to rates in other sought-after cities in the US
Check out the table below to see how self storage rent in Chicago compares to other popular cities in the US.
# | City | Average Street Rate |
---|---|---|
1 | New York City, NY | $260 |
2 | Chicago, IL | $134 |
3 | Phoenix, AZ | $118 |
4 | Jacksonville, FL | $116 |
5 | Las Vegas, NV | $115 |
6 | Austin, TX | $111 |
7 | Dallas, TX | $110 |
8 | Houston, TX | $101 |
9 | San Antonio, TX | $99 |
10 | Oklahoma City, OK | $77 |
Average street rates for non-climate-controlled 10x10 units for May 2025.
Self storage market size in Chicago, IL
Chicago self storage market statistics
No. of self storage units | approx. 19,899 |
No. of self storage facilities | 159 |
Local self storage inventory (sq. ft.) | 12,207,157 |
Self storage sq. ft. per capita | 3.6 |
New self storage facilities set for delivery in 2025 | 1 |
New self storage supply set for delivery in 2025 (sq. ft.) | 54,471 |
Average self storage rent in Chicago for a standard 10x10 unit | $134 |
Chicago self storage construction trends
The self storage sector has maintained an active development pipeline in recent years. In 2024 alone, about 77,216 square feet of self storage space came online in Chicago, representing 0.6% of the existing inventory. Compared to the year before, self storage inventory in Chicago has increased by 0.6%.
Currently, there are 159 self storage facilities and approx. 19,899 storage units in Chicago. The local inventory encompasses 12,207,157 square feet of storage space, offering 3.6 square feet per capita.
A total of 54,471 square feet of self storage space is projected for completion in 2025, a decrease of 29.5% compared to last year.
What’s driving demand for self storage?
Quick overview of the Chicago housing market
Total no. of households | 1,179,081 |
Y-o-y change in no. of households | -1.7% |
Renter households in Chicago | 633,541 |
Homeowner households in Chicago | 545,540 |
Households with mortgages in Chicago | 351,342 |
Median number of rooms (all housing units) | 4.6 |
Average apartment size (sq. ft.) | 746 |
Average home size (sq. ft.) | N/A |
Average apartment rent | $2,395 |
Median home value | $337,600 |
Working from home (% of total working population) | 15.8% |
Self storage for residential clients: key facts and figures about the Chicago 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 Chicago 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.
Chicago is home to 633,541 renters and 545,540 homeowners. The average apartment size in Chicago is 746 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.
Expert insights on Chicago's self storage market
Get expert insights into the city's self storage industry, from socio-economic factors to the market dynamics of supply and demand.

Urban density and limited space will be important factors in the development of the self storage industry. As residential units become smaller, particularly in downtown and high-density neighborhoods, residents increasingly rely on self storage for additional space.

Due to its ability to generate consistent growing dividends, self storage has outperformed many other real estate categories during and since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Storage demand, as we all know, usually comes from life events. However, one of these life events has been recently declining, with home sales struggling due to higher interest rates. This has renters and homeowners staying in their residences for longer periods of time, causing self storage owners to lower their advertised rates in search of the next tenant. How long will this last is the question.
Kheir Al-Kodmany
Professor of Urban Planning,
University of Illinois Chicago (UIC)

What are the factors driving the local boom in self storage development?
Urban density and limited space will be important factors in the development of the self storage industry. As residential units become smaller, particularly in downtown and high-density neighborhoods, residents increasingly rely on self storage for additional space.
Population mobility is also set to make an impact. Chicago has a high rate of relocation and migration, including young professionals, students, and downsizing retirees, all of whom frequently need storage solutions.
Self storage development might also be driven by e-commerce growth. The rise of small businesses and online retailers has driven demand for commercial self storage, with businesses using storage units as inventory hubs.
Multifamily housing trends will also have a significant impact. As the city continues to develop high-rise apartments and mixed-use developments, storage space in residential buildings is often limited, pushing tenants toward external storage options.
All in all, the self storage market is mostly influenced by real estate market shifts. As housing prices fluctuated and people moved between urban and suburban areas, demand for short-term storage spiked.
What are the sources of local self storage demand?
Renters and condo owners are big demand drivers of self storage. Many residents in urban areas, particularly in downtown Chicago and transit-oriented developments (TODs), have limited in-unit storage.
College students are also noticed to drive up demand. With several major universities in Chicago (e.g., UIC, DePaul, Northwestern), students often need seasonal storage for dorm and apartment belongings.
Other demand drivers come from businesses and entrepreneurs. Small businesses, especially e-commerce retailers and service providers, use self storage for inventory, records, and equipment.
Finally, the group most likely to use self storge may be homeowners in transition. Oftentimes, people relocating, downsizing or undergoing renovations turn to self storage as a temporary solution.
What economic events are impacting the self storage industry in Chicago?
Right now, the Chicago self storage market is meeting the needs of residents dealing with economic uncertainty and inflation. Rising inflation and economic instability have influenced how people use self storage, with some downsizing and using storage as a cost-effective alternative to larger living spaces.
How do you envision the future of the local self storage industry, in the medium- and long-term?
In the short term (meaning the next 3 to 5 years), self storage development will continue in high-density areas and near transit hubs, catering to urban renters, remote workers, and small businesses. The situation is much more open-ended in the long term.
Joseph Calvanico
Assistant Teaching Professor of Real Estate,
Roosevelt University

Which factors underpin the local boom of self storage development in the past few years?
Due to its ability to generate consistent growing dividends, self storage has outperformed many other real estate categories during and since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where does local demand for self storage come from?
In my opinion, local demand follows where people moved since Covid. In other words, many people sought suburban or rural life during COVID-19. The targets of the investor transactions since 1/1/23 are not in the City of Chicago but in places like Crystal Lake, Lake in the Hills, Volo, Plainfield and West Chicago to name a few Collar County locations. Even Minooka and Beach Park and into the border towns of WI and IN! In the rest of the country, this tracks as well — SelfStorage.com reports that states with increased self storage demand include North Dakota and Maine!
What major economic events affected the self storage industry in Chicago?
Based on the statistics I’ve seen, the peak was 2022 for self storage. Since then, owners have been decreasing move-in costs, increasing the demand with these incentives. This is especially true for climate-controlled and increased security where consumers traditionally are willing to pay more — getting a move-in incentive has helped the increase in that demand.
How do you envision the future of the local self storage industry, in the medium- and long-term?
It is still a good performing asset — I see possible consolidation, especially given the Red Dot storage transaction.
Rob Cook
Associate Vice President,
Matthews REIS - Self Storage Division

Where does local demand for self storage come from, and what major economic events affected the self storage industry in Chicago?
Storage demand, as we all know, usually comes from life events. However, one of these life events has been recently declining, with home sales struggling due to higher interest rates. This has renters and homeowners staying in their residences for longer periods of time, causing self storage owners to lower their advertised rates in search of the next tenant. How long will this last is the question.
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 28,000 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.