Australian self storage price survey - 2009


In October 2009, SpaceOut commissioned an Australia-wide self storage price survey. We've gathered, collated and analysed the data and provide here a summary of our results. If you would like a copy of our full report, please submit your request via the link on the right of this page.

 

We believe that this data provides an interesting insight into the current state of the Australian Self Storage industry, and also offers a useful resource for our members - for SpaceOwners it provides a guide as to what price is approriate to charge for their own spaces - for SpaceSeekers, it helps determine what is a reasonable price that they could expect to pay

.We've created a summary map of all Australia Self Storage Prices and also state by state summaries which includes a map and table of self storage prices for towns/suburbs within each state.

See Australia Wide Storage Prices or click on a link to the left for State Specific Storage Data.

About the Survey

To collect data for this survey, we we polled more than 700 self storage facilities from all over Australia – and had 460 replies – that’s better than a  60% response rate.

As a part of the survey process we requested pricing information for the following different storage spaces, which represent the most commonly used sizes for most users.  Not all facilities were able to provide us with prices for each of these space types – and some provided us with a very large list of storage space sizes, costs and options. 

  • Medium Storage Space - 3 x 3 x 3 metres - 18 m3 – this is roughly half a single car garage and  will normally hold the contents of 2 bedroom unit
  • Large Storage Space – 3 x 6 x 3 metres - 48 m3 -  this is approximately the size of a small single garage - This space can hold the contents of a large three or four bedroom home or is ideal for the secure storage of a car or boat.
  • Extra Large Storage Space – 3 x 8 x 3 metres - 72 m3 - This space can hold the contents of a large 4 or 5 bedroom home or a car or boat, or a combination of these.

We also requested pricing information for storage of a small car or boat – both under cover (in a unit, covered garage or warehouse)  and outside (on a secure parking lot).

Some Observations

In collating and analysing the data we noticed some interesting points.

  • Many storage facilities offer a bewildering range of storage options (some with 30 or more different sizes to choose from)  ranging from as small as 1x1 metre lockers to extra large storage units that could more than 6x9 metres in some cases. 
  • The height of storage  units varies significantly – although is typically between 2.4 and 3 meters
  • Their does not appear to be a “standard” size for storage units.  Even though most offer units “around” the 3x3 and 3x6 sizes,  actual dimensions (and particularly heights) will vary
  • Most facilities will offer a discount for longer term or pre-paid rentals – these can be in the form of discounts (ranging from 5% to 25%) or special offers – such as “pay for 5 months and get  1 month free”
  • There are big variations in the “extras” associated with different facilities :
    • Some will require booking or holding fees
    • Some will require cleaning fees
    • Most will offer insurance as an extra cost - although  some will include a small insurance cover as a part of the rental rates
    • Most will require payment in advance
    • Some will provide padlocks
    • Some offer free use of a truck/trailer 

Results

Although we realised  there would be variations, we were quite surprised to see such  significant differences beween some of the prices.  In some  areas (usually regional or rural areas) storage process can be very low, and in others areas (usually – but not always- capital cities) rates were even higher than expected.

The tables and graphs below provide a summary of the data we have gathered of Self Storage Prices for various storage space sizes, Australia wide.

Note - all prices covered in theses tables are based on standard (non-discounted)  monthly rates for the unit sizes indicated (or the closest size to that on offer).  Empty cells indicate that no data was available.

 

Average Price by Locality

Sydney Self Storage prices appear to be significantly higher than the rest of the country – with most other capital cities not too far behind.  Country and rural rates tend to be a lot cheaper than city storage prices and the cheapest (by quiet a margin) is Country South Australia.

The Table below shows Average Self Storage Prices by Region

3x2
3x3
3x4
3x5
3x6
3x7
3x8
Car / Boat
18 m3
27 m3
36 m3
45 m3
54 m3
63 m3
72 m3
Outside
Covered
Australia
$151
$191
$238
$280
$266
$343
$349
$117
$159
Sydney
$234
$269
$347
$423
$421
$553
$536
$196
$283
Brisbane
$161
$221
$263
$324
$370
$418
$472
$163
$275
Melbourne
$174
$202
$250
$310
$310
$416
$313
$122
$136
Adelaide
$154
$201
$237
$274
$336
$360
$361
$89
$149
Perth
$159
$218
$248
$306
$338
$392
$412
$131
$200
ACT
$135
$184
$250
$236
$292
$364
$381
$120
$200
NSW - Country
$133
$150
$198
$225
$197
$227
$254
$103
$184
NT
$122
$175
$187
$195
$220
$247
$262
 
 
QLD - Country
$132
$165
$216
$233
$242
$308
$316
$117
$137
SA - Country
$95
$130
$98
$178
$160
$232
$40
TAS
$130
$168
$203
$241
$274
$248
$78
$80
VIC - Country
$102
$131
$160
$172
$181
$197
$250
$61
$85
WA - Country
$275
$242
$415
$480
$228
$352
$100

Average Self Storage Prices - Australian Capital Cities
Average Self Storage Prices - Australian Capital Cities

 

Maximum Price by Locality

Again Sydney tops the table for the highest storage prices in Australia – with truly scary prices of over $800 a month for some of the larger unit sizes.

The Table below shows Maximum Self Storage Price by Region

3x2
3x3
3x4
3x5
3x6
3x7
3x8
Car / Boat
18 m3
27 m3
36 m3
45 m3
54 m3
63 m3
72 m3
Outside
Covered
Australia
$341
$400
$603
$560
$590
$805
$834
$297
$330
Sydney
$341
$399
$603
$560
$590
$805
$834
$297
$315
Brisbane
$200
$323
$350
$401
$480
$450
$560
$200
$300
Melbourne
$325
$395
$400
$507
$430
$649
$375
$250
$180
Adelaide
$187
$265
$347
$335
$390
$430
$493
$150
$180
Perth
$245
$320
$380
$445
$495
$450
$425
$180
$330
ACT
$135
$230
$295
$236
$336
$420
$430
$130
$200
NSW - Country
$265
$385
$400
$500
$355
$380
$460
$150
$250
NT
$122
$175
$187
$200
$220
$247
$294
QLD - Country
$178
$260
$342
$356
$420
$561
$500
$181
$200
SA - Country
$95
$160
$100
$186
$203
$295
$40
TAS
$155
$210
$240
$324
$408
$340
$100
$80
VIC - Country
$135
$220
$320
$255
$261
$290
$440
$100
$100
WA - Country
$300
$400
$415
$480
$275
$385
$100

 

Maximum Storage prices - Australian Capital Cities
Maximum Self Storage Prices - Australian Capital Cities

City vs Country

Unsurprisingly, storage in the Capital cities tends to be more expensive than those in regional and rural areas.   Country Storage rates are mostly 25% (or more) cheaper than their city based equivalents.  In country areas, larger storage spaces are actually cheaper than smaller spaces.

The Table below shows Average Self Storage Price – City vs Country

3x2
3x3
3x4
3x5
3x6
3x7
3x8
Car / Boat
18 m3
27 m3
36 m3
45 m3
54 m3
63 m3
72 m3
Outside
Covered
Australia Average
$151
$191
$238
$280
$266
$343
$349
$117
$159
City Average
$169
$216
$266
$312
$344
$417
$412
$137
$207
Country Average
$141
$166
$211
$246
$215
$175
$238
$83
$81

Australian Self Storage Price Comaprison - City vs Country
Australian Self Storage Price Comaprison - City vs Country


Chain  vs Small vs Independent

We compared the average prices offered by  the large Self Storage “Chains” who have self storage facilities in multiple locations Australia wide – Smaller groups (who  offer 2 or more facilities under the one “brand”) and Independent operators.
Overall there appears to be relatively little price difference between the Large National Chains and smaller “groups”.  However, Independent operators tend to be around 20%-25% cheaper.

The Table below shows Average Self Storage Price for Chains, Groups and Independent Operators :

3x2
3x3
3x4
3x5
3x6
3x7
3x8
Car / Boat
18 m3
27 m3
36 m3
45 m3
54 m3
63 m3
72 m3
Outside
Covered
Large Chains
$166
$212
$260
$312
$308
$389
$407
$136
$157
Small Chains
$174
$203
$277
$318
$292
$389
$330
$117
$166
Independents
$140
$168
$204
$238
$236
$273
$309
$102
$155

Australian Self Storage Price Comparison - Chain vs Small Group vs Independent
Australian Self Storage Price Comparison - Chain vs Small Group vs Independent

 

 


Would You Like
More Details?

     

    If you'd like a full copy of the Australian Self Storage Price Survey (2009)
    simply contact us and we will send you more information.

     




Feedback Form