Seattle Self Storage Market Statistics:

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

How much does a storage unit cost in Seattle, WA?

Currently, the average cost of a 10x10 storage unit in Seattle is $199/month, a decrease of 4.8% compared to last year. Nationally, self storage street rates for 10×10 non-climate-controlled units saw a 3.8% year-over-year decrease, registering an average of $128 in June, 2023.

Seattle self storage prices by unit size

Besides the standard 10x10 unit, the Seattle 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 Seattle rents for $73, while a 5x10 unit would cost $113/month. Average street rates for a 10x20 unit stand at $341/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 $73
5x10 $113
10x10 $199
10x15 $264
10x20 $341
10x30 $464
Climate-Controlled Units*
Unit Size Avg. Street Rate
5x5 $77
5x10 $117
10x10 $198
10x15 $246
10x20 $331
10x30 $478

* Average monthly rates for Seattle in June 2023.

Average storage unit cost in Seattle 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 Seattle storage units in First Hill, where the standard self storage unit goes for $98/mo. on average, in North Beacon Hill, where renters pay $106/mo. on average, and in Roosevelt, where the average street rates hover around $112/mo.

If you’re looking for other great deals, check out self storage listings, and their average street rates, in Broadway ($166) and Maple Leaf ($169).

Other neighborhoods, on the other hand, come with higher street rates. The most expensive neighborhood in Seattle is Interbay with a monthly average street rate of $315, followed by Victory Heights.

Cheapest Neighborhoods for Self Storage
# Neighborhood Average Street Rate
1 First Hill $98
2 North Beacon Hill $106
3 Roosevelt $112
4 Broadway $166
5 Maple Leaf $169
6 Meridian Park $176
7 West Queen Anne $181
8 Harbor Island-Industrial District $185
9 South Lake Union $189
10 Fremont $190
Most Expensive Neighborhoods for Self Storage
# Neighborhood Average Street Rate
1 Interbay $315
2 Victory Heights $288
3 Parkwood $263
4 Central Waterfront $262
5 High Point $261
6 Rainier Beach $260
7 Mount Baker $256
8 Ballard $249
9 Fairmount Park $243
10 North Queen Anne $229

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

How Seattle, WA, Self Storage Compares With Other Cities

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

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

# City Average Street Rate
1 Mercer Island, WA $256
2 Seattle, WA $199
3 Newcastle, WA $198
4 Tukwila, WA $185
5 Kirkland, WA $180
6 Shoreline, WA $180
7 Renton, WA $172
8 Bellevue, WA $169
9 Seatac, WA $161
10 Burien, WA $143

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

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

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

# City Average Street Rate
1 New York City, NY $255
2 Seattle, WA $199
3 Phoenix, AZ $126
4 Las Vegas, NV $124
5 Austin, TX $122
6 Dallas, TX $117
7 Tucson, AZ $116
8 San Antonio, TX $112
9 Houston, TX $99
10 Indianapolis, IN $90

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

Self storage market size in Seattle, WA

Seattle self storage market statistics

No. of self storage units approx. 4,974
No. of self storage facilities 58
Local self storage inventory (sq. ft.) 3,623,762
Self storage sq. ft. per capita 3.7
Average self storage rent in Seattle for a standard 10x10 unit $199

Seattle self storage construction trends

The self storage sector has maintained an active development pipeline in recent years. In 2022 alone, about 73,813 square feet of self storage space came online in Seattle, representing 2% of the existing inventory. Compared to the year before, self storage inventory in Seattle has increased by 2.1%.

Currently, there are 58 self storage facilities and approx. 4,974 storage units in Seattle. The local inventory encompasses 3,623,762 square feet of storage space, offering 3.7 square feet per capita.

What’s driving demand for self storage?

Quick overview of the Seattle housing market

Total no. of households 337,361
Y-o-y change in no. of households 1.7%
Renter households in Seattle 184,866
Homeowner households in Seattle 152,495
Households with mortgages in Seattle 110,293
Median number of rooms (all housing units) 4.1
Average apartment size (sq. ft.) 690
Average home size (sq. ft.) N/A
Average apartment rent $2,260
Median home value $768,400
Working from home (% of total working population) 15.2%

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

Seattle is home to 184,866 renters and 152,495 homeowners. The average apartment size in Seattle is 690 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 Seattle 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 Seattle 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 26,000 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.