Most price guides quote a national average without saying where it came from, how many facilities are behind it, or which country's dollars it is in. Here is what the published rates say, with the US and Canada kept apart.
United States, median monthly rate
| Unit size | Median | Middle half of prices | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5x5 | $34 | $21 to $55 | 794 units at 670 facilities |
| 5x10 | $49 | $32 to $70 | 1,131 units at 979 facilities |
| 10x10 | $78 | $53 to $105 | 1,244 units at 1,081 facilities |
| 10x15 | $100 | $69 to $139 | 1,080 units at 949 facilities |
| 10x20 | $123 | $81 to $163 | 1,130 units at 1,019 facilities |
Canada, median monthly rate
| Unit size | Median | Middle half of prices | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5x5 | CA$89 | CA$56 to CA$111 | 92 units at 64 facilities |
| 5x10 | CA$115 | CA$80 to CA$162 | 130 units at 101 facilities |
| 10x10 | CA$184 | CA$111 to CA$259 | 164 units at 120 facilities |
| 10x15 | CA$239 | CA$144 to CA$334 | 132 units at 102 facilities |
| 10x20 | CA$249 | CA$155 to CA$367 | 130 units at 109 facilities |
Canadian rates run well above US ones at every size, and that is before any currency conversion. Part of it is genuine cost difference and part is that our Canadian sample leans towards heated indoor buildings, which is what a prairie winter demands and what a facility charges more for.
The small units are the expensive ones
In the US a 5x5 at $34 covers 25 square feet and a 10x20 at $123 covers 200. Eight times the space for under four times the money. The curve flattens as size goes up, so if you are undecided between two sizes, price the larger one before you rule it out.
Going from a 5x10 to a 10x10 doubles the area and adds about $29 a month in the US. Going from a 10x15 to a 10x20 adds only about $23.
Why your quote will differ
These are national medians. A unit in a dense city centre costs more than the same unit an hour out, and the spread within one size is wide: the middle half of US 10x10 units runs from $53 to $105, with a quarter of units cheaper and a quarter dearer still. Use the median to sanity check a quote, not as a target.
How we got these numbers
Counted from the 11,482 facilities listed on StorageAtlas across 46 states and provinces. US and Canadian rates are reported separately and never averaged together, because a blended median of two currencies is not a number anyone can use. Each figure says how many units it rests on and how many separate facilities those came from, so you can see that no single operator's price list is carrying it. Prices are what each facility published on its own website on the day we last read it, which makes them a dated reading rather than a quote. We hold no vacancy data, so nothing here says whether a unit is free today.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average cost of a 10x10 storage unit?
The median published rate is $78 a month in the US, counted across 1,244 units at 1,081 facilities, and CA$184 in Canada across 164 units at 120 facilities.
Why is Canadian storage more expensive?
Canadian rates sit above US ones at every size in our data, before any currency conversion. Some of that is cost, and some is that a larger share of the Canadian sample is heated indoor space, which costs more to run and more to rent.
Which unit size gives the best value?
The larger sizes cost less per square foot. A US 5x5 at $34 buys 25 square feet where a 10x20 at $123 buys 200.
Do these prices include tax and fees?
No. They are the advertised rate for the unit. Most facilities add a one time administration fee and many require contents insurance, so budget above the listed figure.
