Quick Answer
Self storage in Ottawa starts around $85 to $145 per month for a 5 by 5 foot unit, depending on the location: U-Haul lists 5 by 5 units from about $90 in Orléans and $105 in Kanata, and Public Storage lists them from about $112 in Orléans. Price guides put averages at roughly $109 for a 5 by 5, $149 for a 5 by 10 and $240 for a 10 by 10. Before you rent, check whether selling is cheaper: if your items are worth less than a few months of rent, sell them on Fliku instead.
Storage is the easy answer to a hard question: what do I do with all this stuff? A short gap between leases, a summer away, a renovation, a downsize. The unit is cheap enough to say yes to and expensive enough to regret six months later. In Ottawa, where rents are high and space is tight, storage is a common solution, and an easy way to waste money.
This guide explains what storage costs in Ottawa, how to choose a size, how to decide whether to store or sell, and how students and renters can use it wisely.
What Storage Costs in Ottawa
Prices depend on the location, the size, whether the unit is climate controlled, whether it is on the ground floor and the time of year. The figures below are the starting prices that facilities and price guides list, and they change often, so check the current price and any fees before you sign.
| Provider or source | Listed starting price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| U-Haul Moving & Storage of Orléans | 5x5 from about $90 per month | Other Ottawa-area U-Haul locations list starting rates from about $85 to $145 |
| U-Haul Moving & Storage of Kanata | 5x5 from about $105 per month | Check availability and unit type |
| Public Storage, Orléans | 5x5 from about $112 per month | Check current offers and fees |
| Price-guide averages (one source) | About $80 for 5x5, $160 for 10x10, $240 or more for larger units | Averages; actual prices vary |
| Price-guide averages (another source) | About $109 for 5x5, $149 for 5x10, $241 for 10x10 | Averages; actual prices vary |
You can see current U-Haul pricing in the U-Haul Ottawa storage listings, and Public Storage lists its Ottawa units on its own site. Many facilities offer a discounted first month, but the regular rate often applies afterwards, so ask what you will pay in month three and beyond.
Which Size Do You Need?
- 5x5: boxes, seasonal gear and a few small items. Good for a student's belongings.
- 5x10: a small room's worth: a mattress, some furniture and boxes.
- 10x10: a one-bedroom apartment's contents, or a two-bedroom's essentials.
- 10x15 to 10x20: a two- or three-bedroom home's furniture, appliances and boxes.
- Larger: a full house, including large furniture and appliances.
Measure your items and list them before you choose, and ask the facility for guidance. Packing smartly, with boxes stacked, furniture disassembled and a walkway left to reach items at the back, lets a smaller unit work.
Store It or Sell It?
This is the question that saves the most money. Add up what you will pay to store an item for as long as you need, and compare it with what it is worth and what it would cost to replace.
| Item | Rough used value | Storage for 6 months in a 10x10 at about $150 per month | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheap flat-pack bookshelf | Under $30 | Far more than the item is worth | Sell or donate |
| Used sofa in fair condition | $100 to $250 | About $900, much more than the sofa | Sell and replace later |
| Solid wood dining set | $150 to $400 | Costs more than it is worth unless you need it soon | Store only if you will use it again soon |
| Family heirloom | Sentimental | Worth keeping | Store, and consider insurance |
| Seasonal gear you will use again | Varies | Compare to the cost of buying again | Depends on value |
These are examples, not fixed figures. The point is that the monthly cost adds up: a $150 unit is $1,800 a year, which is more than the contents are worth for many households. See how to sell used furniture in Ottawa, how to price used items and sell, donate or junk it to help you decide.
Student Summer Storage in Ottawa
If you study at Carleton, uOttawa or Algonquin and leave Ottawa between April and September, storage may look like the obvious answer, but check the maths. A small unit for four months can cost several hundred dollars, which may be more than your desk, chair, mini fridge and lamp are worth. Many students sell bulky items in the spring and buy used again in the fall, and store only what is hard to replace, such as electronics and a good chair. Sharing a unit with a roommate halves the cost. Our guides to selling furniture when moving out and the end-of-year checklist help you plan.
What to Look for When Choosing a Facility
Storage unit checklist
- Compare monthly rates and ask what you will pay after the promotion ends
- Ask about administration fees, lock costs and insurance requirements
- Check security: lighting, gated access, cameras and individual locks
- Ask about climate control for electronics, instruments, wood furniture and papers
- Check access hours and whether you can reach the unit easily
- Read the contract for notice periods, rate increases and late fees
- Confirm that your own insurance covers items in storage, or buy cover
Packing and Protecting Your Things
Good packing protects your belongings and makes the best use of the space. Use sturdy boxes of similar sizes, label them on the sides and keep a list of what is in each. Disassemble beds and tables, wrap upholstered furniture and keep mattresses upright in covers. Do not store food, flammable liquids, propane or anything perishable. Leave a small aisle so you can reach items, and put things you may need in front. Raise items off the floor on pallets or boards in case of damp, and take photographs of the contents for your records.
Insurance and Contracts
Storage facilities usually do not insure your belongings, and your landlord's building policy does not either. Check whether your tenant or home insurance covers items kept off-site, and what limits apply. If it does not, the facility may offer a plan, or you can buy a policy. Read the lease for notice periods, because many facilities require notice before you move out, and charge for a full month even if you leave mid-month. Set a calendar reminder every three months to review whether you still need the unit.
Do You Need Climate Control?
Ottawa's cold winters and humid summers can be hard on stored belongings. Climate-controlled units cost more, so it is worth deciding whether you need one. Electronics, musical instruments, wood furniture, leather, artwork, photographs and important papers are the items most at risk from extreme temperatures and moisture. Basic furniture, boxes of clothes and tools are usually fine in a standard unit if they are well packed. If you are storing something valuable for several months, climate control is often worth the extra cost. If you are storing for a few weeks, it probably is not.
Alternatives to a Storage Unit
Before you rent, think about the alternatives. Family and friends with a spare room or a garage may be happy to hold a few boxes. Some moving companies offer short-term storage when you hire them for a move. Some landlords and condo buildings have storage lockers for rent at a lower price than a commercial facility. For students, some campus services and local organisations offer summer storage at reduced cost, so ask your residence office. And always consider selling or donating what you do not truly need.
Getting In and Out: Access, Hours and Move-Out
Facilities differ in how you get in. Some offer 24-hour access, others only during office hours, and some require an appointment. Ask whether you need to book to use a cart or elevator, and what the policy is on bringing a vehicle to the door. When you leave, empty the unit, sweep it out and take your lock. Ask for written confirmation that your contract has ended, and check your final bill. If you are unsure about the notice period, ask before you sign, because it can mean an extra month of rent.
Selling Instead of Storing: Doing It Safely
If you decide to sell, list early, price to move and be ready for buyers.
If you are meeting someone you do not know, use the Ottawa Police Safe Trade zones: parking spots at Ottawa Police stations at 466 Metcalfe Street (behind 474 Elgin), 211 Huntmar Drive in Kanata, 245 Greenbank Road in Nepean, 4561 Bank Street in Leitrim and 3343 St-Joseph Boulevard in Orléans. They are not monitored around the clock and the police do not take responsibility for the transaction, but they are a far better choice than a dark parking lot. Meet in daylight, bring a friend, and confirm any e-transfer in your own banking app before the item leaves. The Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists current scams, and our guide to avoiding scams explains the common ones.
Make a Plan Before You Rent
Before you sign, write down what is going into the unit, how long it will stay and what you will do at the end of that time. People who treat storage as an open-ended solution often pay for years. If the stored items are worth less than the rent you will pay, sell them now. If you are keeping them, set a review date every three months to check whether you still need them, and sell or donate anything that has not been touched. A little planning is the difference between storage that helps and storage that quietly costs hundreds of dollars a year. For bigger changes, such as a move to a smaller home, our downsizing guide for Ottawa explains the services that help you decide what to keep.
Storing things you could sell?
List furniture and household items free on Fliku and skip the monthly storage bill. No fees.
List Items on FlikuFrequently Asked Questions
How much does a storage unit cost in Ottawa, Ontario?
Listed starting prices for a 5 by 5 foot unit run from about $85 to $145 per month, with U-Haul listing about $90 in Orléans and $105 in Kanata, and Public Storage about $112 in Orléans. Price guides put averages at roughly $109 for a 5 by 5, $149 for a 5 by 10 and $240 for a 10 by 10. Prices change, so confirm the current rate and any fees.
What size storage unit do I need?
A 5 by 5 holds boxes and a few small items, a 5 by 10 suits a small room, a 10 by 10 holds a one-bedroom apartment, and 10 by 15 or larger suits a two- or three-bedroom home. Measure your items, list them and ask the facility for guidance before you rent.
Is it cheaper to store my furniture or sell it?
If your items are worth less than a few months of rent, selling is usually cheaper. A unit at about $150 per month costs $1,800 a year, more than many used furniture sets are worth. Store only what is expensive to replace or has sentimental value.
Where can students store belongings over the summer in Ottawa?
Self storage facilities such as U-Haul and Public Storage offer small units, and sharing one with a roommate cuts the cost. Many students find it cheaper to sell bulky items in spring and buy used again in the fall, and to store only what is hard to replace.
What should I check before signing a storage contract?
Check what the rate will be after the promotion, any administration, lock or insurance fees, security and access hours, whether climate control is available, the notice period and late fees, and whether your own insurance covers items in storage.
