New York apartments are small, and New Yorkers own more than their closets can hold. That is why storage here costs more than almost anywhere else in the country. The city has about 2.5 square feet of storage space per person. The national average is more than double that.
So what will you pay? Most price guides give you one number and no source. This one uses dated market data, shows the price in every borough, and then covers the part that matters most: the costs that are not on the sign.
The Short Answer
As of August 2026, the average street rates for a standard storage unit in New York City are:
| Unit Size | Monthly Price | Per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 5x5 | $88 | $1,056 |
| 5x10 | $163 | $1,956 |
| 10x10 | $271 | $3,252 |
| 10x15 | $379 | $4,548 |
| 10x20 | $495 | $5,940 |
| 10x30 | $630 | $7,560 |
Source: StorageCafe, using Yardi Matrix street-rate data for August 2026.
The 10x10 is the most common size. Its price went up about 1.5% from last year.
Look at the yearly column before you sign anything. Storage feels cheap by the month. It is not cheap by the year.
Storage Prices by Borough
Where the unit is matters as much as how big it is. Here is what a 10x10 runs in each borough:
| Borough | 10x10 Monthly Price |
|---|---|
| Manhattan | $300-$450 |
| Brooklyn | $260-$380 |
| Queens | $230-$330 |
| The Bronx | $190-$275 |
| Staten Island | $180-$240 |
Source: SelfStorage.com estimates from 2026 NYC listings. Live rates change by facility, date, and promotion.
The gap between neighborhoods is even bigger. In the StorageCafe data, the cheapest NYC neighborhood is Hunts Point in the Bronx, at an average of $119 a month across all unit sizes. The most expensive is Yorkville on the Upper East Side, at $546.
That gap is the biggest way to save money on storage in this city. If you will not visit your unit often, a facility in the Bronx or outer Queens can cost about half what the same unit costs in Manhattan.
What Size Do You Need?
Most people rent too big. Here is a rough guide:
| Unit Size | About the Size Of | What Fits |
|---|---|---|
| 5x5 | A hall closet | Boxes, seasonal clothes, a bike, small items |
| 5x10 | A walk-in closet | A studio's boxes plus a mattress and a few small pieces |
| 10x10 | Half a one-car garage | A one-bedroom apartment |
| 10x15 | A small bedroom | A two-bedroom apartment |
| 10x20 | A one-car garage | A three-bedroom home |
| 10x30 | A long garage | A large house, or a home plus office contents |
Two tips from our crews. First, units are tall. Stack to the ceiling and you can often drop one size. Second, take furniture apart. A bed frame and a dining table in pieces take half the room.
Does Climate Control Cost More?
Less than you might think. Here are the same NYC averages for climate-controlled units:
| Unit Size | Standard | Climate-Controlled | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5x5 | $88 | $84 | -$4 |
| 5x10 | $163 | $158 | -$5 |
| 10x10 | $271 | $277 | +$6 |
| 10x15 | $379 | $407 | +$28 |
| 10x20 | $495 | $524 | +$29 |
| 10x30 | $630 | $707 | +$77 |
Source: StorageCafe, August 2026.
At small sizes the price is about the same. At large sizes you pay $28 to $77 more a month.
Most storage in NYC buildings is indoors anyway. But "indoors" and "climate-controlled" are not the same thing. Ask the facility what temperature and humidity range it holds, and whether it holds it all year.
You want real climate control for:
- Wood furniture, which can crack and warp
- Leather and upholstery
- Art, photos, books, and paper records
- Musical instruments
- Electronics
- Wine
For art and antiques, a normal self-storage unit is the wrong tool even with climate control. See our guide to fine art storage in NYC. Wine has its own rules too, covered in moving a wine collection.
The Costs That Are Not on the Sign
The monthly rate is where the bill starts. Ask about every one of these before you sign.
The Intro Rate
Many facilities advertise a low first month, or a big discount for the first few months. The prices in this guide are street rates, which is what a new customer pays. After you move in, the facility can raise your rent. Ask how often they raise rates and by how much. Get the answer in writing if you can.
Admin Fees and Insurance
Many facilities charge a one-time admin fee at move-in. Most require insurance on what you store. Some let you use your renters policy. Others sell you their own plan. Check your renters policy first. You may already be covered. Our guide to moving insurance in NYC explains how that works.
The Lock
You usually have to buy your own, and some facilities only allow the kind they sell.
Getting Your Things There
This is the big one, and nobody counts it. With self-storage, you are the mover. That means:
- A van or truck rental, or several car trips
- Tolls, and the Manhattan congestion zone toll if you cross below 60th Street
- A free day, or two
- A friend you now owe a favor
- Doing it all again when you take everything out
For a full one-bedroom, hauling it yourself can cost a few hundred dollars each way before you count your time.
Access
Some facilities are open around the clock. Many are not. Some charge extra for 24-hour access. If you will need your things often, check the hours and the elevator setup before you sign.
Self-Storage vs. Full-Service Storage
There are two ways to store things in NYC.
Self-storage is the classic setup. You rent a unit, you move everything in, and you hold the key. You pay for the whole unit even if it is half empty.
Full-service storage works the other way around. Movers come to your home, wrap and list your items, take them to a secure warehouse, and bring them back when you ask. It is usually priced by how much space your things take up, not by a fixed unit size.
| Self-Storage | Full-Service Storage | |
|---|---|---|
| Who moves it | You | Professional movers |
| What you pay for | The whole unit | The space your items use |
| Access | Any time the facility is open | By request, with delivery |
| Best for | Things you need often | Furniture, long stays, stays between homes |
| Item list | You keep your own | Made for you at pickup |
| Protection | Whatever you do yourself | Items wrapped and padded by movers |
How to choose. If you need to get to your things every week, self-storage wins. If you are storing furniture for months, or you are between apartments, full-service often costs about the same once you add up the truck, the tolls, and your time. It is also a lot less work.
That is how our storage service runs. We pick up, wrap, list, store, and bring everything back. For the full breakdown of when storing beats moving everything, read storage vs. moving everything.
Is It Worth Storing at All?
Here is a test that saves people real money. Add up what it would cost to buy the items again. Compare that to a year of rent on the unit.
A 10x10 costs about $3,252 a year at the NYC average. If the furniture inside is worth $2,000, you will pay more to keep it than to replace it. Sell it, donate it, or put it on the curb. Our guide on how to get rid of furniture in NYC covers the free options and the city rules.
Storage does make sense when:
- You are between homes. A gap between leases or a delayed closing is what short-term storage is for.
- You are renovating. A few months, with a clear end date.
- You are downsizing and not ready to decide. A few months gives you time to sell things for a fair price. See our guide to downsizing in NYC.
- The items cannot be replaced. Heirlooms, art, and family pieces.
- You are leaving the city for a while and coming back.
The pattern is simple. Short stays with an end date are worth it. Open-ended storage of normal furniture almost never is.
Seven Ways to Pay Less
- Look outside Manhattan. The same unit can cost about half as much in the Bronx or outer Queens.
- Rent the smallest unit that works. Stack high and take furniture apart.
- Clear out first. Every box you do not store is money saved every month.
- Ask about rate increases, not just the first month.
- Use your own insurance if the facility allows it.
- Pick an upper floor. Units that are harder to reach often cost less.
- Set an end date and put it in your calendar. The most expensive unit is the one you forgot about.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a storage unit in NYC per month?
As of August 2026, NYC averages are $88 for a 5x5, $163 for a 5x10, $271 for a 10x10, $379 for a 10x15, $495 for a 10x20, and $630 for a 10x30. Manhattan costs the most. The Bronx and Staten Island cost the least.
How much is a 10x10 storage unit in Manhattan?
About $300 to $450 a month. The same size runs $260 to $380 in Brooklyn, $230 to $330 in Queens, $190 to $275 in the Bronx, and $180 to $240 on Staten Island.
What size storage unit do I need for a one-bedroom apartment?
A 10x10 fits most one-bedroom apartments. If you stack to the ceiling and take furniture apart, a 5x10 can work for a lightly furnished one.
Is climate-controlled storage more expensive in NYC?
For small units the price is about the same. For large units it adds about $28 to $77 a month. It is worth it for wood furniture, art, leather, instruments, and electronics.
Why is storage so expensive in New York City?
There is very little of it. NYC has about 2.5 square feet of storage per person. The national average is more than double that. Low supply and small apartments keep prices high.
Is full-service storage cheaper than self-storage?
The monthly rate can be close. The real difference is everything else. With self-storage you pay for the truck, the tolls, and your own time, twice. With full-service storage, the pickup, wrapping, and item list are done for you, and you pay for the space your items use.
Do I need insurance for a storage unit?
Most facilities require it. Check your renters or homeowners policy first, because it may already cover items in storage. If not, the facility will sell you a plan.
The Bottom Line
Plan on about $271 a month for a 10x10 in New York City, more in Manhattan and less in the Bronx or on Staten Island. Then add the costs that are not on the sign: rate increases, insurance, the truck, the tolls, and your time.
Think in years, not months. Short-term storage with an end date is money well spent. Open-ended storage of things you could replace for less is not.
Need storage with your move, or between homes? Avant-Garde Moving offers secure storage with pickup and delivery, plus a climate-controlled vault for art. Request a free quote and tell us what you need to store and for how long.
