By Maggie Stankiewicz, senior content manager, Storable The self-storage industry is expanding steadily in 2025, fueled by rising housing costs, smaller homes and changing relocation patterns. As Americans seek more flexible storage options, the market is quickly adapting — rents are dropping, technology is streamlining operations and demand is rising in new regions. According to a recent study by SelfStorage.com, the U.S. market is projected to reach $85.3 billion by 2030, pointing to continued long-term growth. Because of this sustained, projected growth, new self-storage trends are shaping how renters and operators navigate the evolving landscape. Key Trends Driving the Market As of early 2025, a few notable trends are shaping the self-storage industry: Short Vs. Long-Term While short-term storage demand is growing — especially among frequent movers — longer rentals are still the norm. The aforementioned study found that renters use their units for an average of 20 months, up from 16.5 months in 2020. Over one-third of renters planning a move in the next year say they’ll use storage for three to six months. States like Oregon, North Dakota and Mississippi have seen a notable uptick in demand, driven in part by migration from expensive metro areas. After hitting highs …
