The 7th Street Journal

How Much Does a Storage Unit Cost Per Month? Self storage and vehicle storage prices, hidden fees, seasonal pricing, and money-saving tips for renters in Faribault, MN

Storage Guides

The short answer: a self storage unit usually runs anywhere from about $50 to over $500 per month, depending on the size, the location, the amenities, and the facility itself. A typical 10x10 unit, which is the most common size people rent, generally lands somewhere between $100 and $180 a month. But the real answer is a little more interesting than that, because pricing in this industry isn't as simple as "size times rate." There are amenities that add to the cost, hidden fees that sneak onto your bill, dynamic pricing models that change the rate based on availability, and seasonal swings that can save you real money if you time it right. I've been running Storage on 7th in Faribault, Minnesota for six years. Below is what I tell people when they ask what storage actually costs and how to budget for it — based on real prices at our facility and what I see across the market. 1. Real Prices by Unit Size Here's what storage costs at Storage on 7th, by size. These give you a sense of the typical range you'll see at any well-run facility: 5x5 unit: starting around $50/month 10x10 unit: typically around $115/month 10x20 unit: typically around $200/month 16x36 unit: starting around $500/month A few things to notice: smaller units cost more per square foot than larger units. A 5x5 ends up being significantly more expensive per square foot than a 16x36. So if you're on the line between sizes, going up to the next size often gets you more space than the price difference would suggest. We also use dynamic pricing, which means the rate on a given unit size changes based on how many of that size are available. If we have ten 5x5 units and all ten are empty, the rate drops to attract tenants. If nine of the ten are full, the rate rises to reflect the scarcity. Most modern facilities, including the big national chains, run some version of this. It's good to know because ...

Ryan Endres
March 18th, 2026

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How to Choose the Right Self Storage Facility for Your Needs? Decision-making criteria for selecting a facility

Storage Guides

If you're shopping for a storage unit, the basic decision isn't that complicated. What makes it hard is that most facilities don't make it easy to compare them honestly. Some advertise low rates and quietly raise them two months later. Others have polished websites but neglected parking lots. And the things that actually matter, like whether you'll feel safe walking in alone after dark, are nearly impossible to figure out without going to see the place yourself.I've been running Storage on 7th in Faribault, Minnesota for six years. We rent everything from 5x5 lockers up to 16x36 commercial units, plus workshop bays, small offices, and indoor and outdoor vehicle storage. So I've seen just about every type of customer come through, and I've heard a lot of stories about why people left their last facility. This guide is what I tell people when they ask how to pick the right place, whether they end up renting from us or not.Here are the nine things to actually pay attention to. 1. Security and Accessibility — The Two Things People Underestimate The single biggest mistake I see people make is choosing a facility based on price without checking how secure or accessible the units actually are. They sign up for the cheapest unit they can find, and three months in they realize they hate visiting the place. I had a tenant move to us from an outdoor storage facility because she was sick of feeling unsafe every time she went to her unit. She'd show up after work in the middle of a Minnesota winter, when it's already dark by 4:30 pm. The lot lights would be flickering, half of them dim or burned out, and she'd be standing in front of an outdoor unit trying to dig through her stuff in the half-dark, glancing over her shoulder the whole time. When she came over to us, the difference was night and day. Indoor halls, full lighting, keypad entry that locks the building down ...

Ryan Endres
September 18th, 2024

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