Self-storage is often seen as a simple fix for running out of space, somewhere to put extra furniture and holiday decorations. But for a lot of renters, a unit ends up being something more, serving as a personal retreat, workshop, or time capsule.
SpareFoot surveyed 501 Americans who currently rent storage to find out how people are really using these spaces. What we found goes well beyond square footage. Renters are running side businesses, holding onto meaningful pieces of their past, and making room for hobbies that just don’t fit at home.
Behind the roll-up door, there’s more going on than you might expect.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
▸ More than 1 in 10 renters (12%) say they feel more like themselves at their storage unit than they do at home.
▸ 28% of renters use their storage unit to support a side hustle or secondary business, earning an average of $646 per month by working out of their unit.
▸ 48% of renters keep items in their unit connected to a past relationship or life chapter they haven’t fully let go of.
▸ 1 in 3 storage renters are actively keeping their unit’s contents from someone in their life.
A Space for Personal Pursuits
For many people, their storage unit has become a workshop, a space with room to focus on personal interests without interruption.
More than 1 in 10 renters (15%) have visited their storage unit to spend time on a hobby or activity they don’t do at home. Men were more likely than women to use their storage space as a personal retreat (21% vs 9%). Married or partnered renters (17%) were about as likely as single renters (15%) to do so. And Gen Z renters (18%) were more likely than millennials (16%) and Gen X (12%) to use their unit in this way.
A Space for Work
For renters looking to earn extra income, storage units can serve as practical workspaces for side hustles and small businesses.
The survey found that 28% of storage renters used their unit to support a side hustle or secondary business, such as reselling merchandise, producing handmade goods, or restoring items for sale. On average, renters who ran side hustles out of their unit reported earning $646 per month from these activities.
Overall, storage renters estimated the average value of the items inside their unit to be $3,339, with 18% saying their unit holds $10,000 or more. In fact, 15% of renters believe their storage unit holds more valuable items than what they keep at home.
Stored, but Not Forgotten
While some storage units look toward the future, housing business equipment or creative projects, others quietly hold pieces of the past. They offer a practical middle ground for many people, allowing them to keep meaningful belongings without having to see them every day.
Our survey found that 48% of storage renters have kept items in their units that are connected to a past relationship or life chapter they’ve moved on from, but haven’t fully let go of. These belongings may include photos, gifts, furniture, or personal collections tied to earlier phases of life.
Men were more likely than women to hold on to these items (51% vs. 43%). Generationally, Gen X (51%) and millennials (50%) were the most likely to store these reminders, followed by Gen Z (43%). Divorced renters were also far more likely to keep these items (68%) than married renters (41%).
Behind the Lock and Key
The storage unit is a place where renters can keep certain belongings separate from their day-to-day life. Some people are upfront about what’s inside, while others are a bit more secretive.
Our survey found that 1 in 3 storage renters were actively keeping their unit’s contents from someone in their life. That could be a partner, family member, roommate, or friend. Men were slightly more likely than women to keep their unit private (37% vs. 31%). And single renters (40%) were more likely to keep their unit private than married/partnered renters (33%) or those in relationships but not married (32%).
Younger renters seemed more guarded: 43% of Gen Z renters were keeping their unit from someone, followed by 36% of millennials and 22% of Gen X renters. Gen Z renters were also the most likely to feel their unit contains something they’d be embarrassed to explain to someone at home (18%), compared to millennials (16%) and Gen X (12%).
Why Storage Often Becomes a Personal Space
The survey highlights something many renters already know firsthand: storage units aren’t always just about needing extra space. They often act as a flexible, private buffer between different parts of life. For some people, that means a place to keep belongings they’re not ready to part with. For others, it’s a quiet workspace or staging area for projects and side businesses.
If you’re considering renting a unit, it can help to compare facilities, prices, and unit types ahead of time. Looking at multiple options side by side makes it easier to find a space that fits both your budget and how you actually plan to use it.
Methodology
We surveyed 501 U.S. adults who currently rent at least one self-storage unit. Respondents were required to be active renters at the time of the survey. The study explored storage habits, item types, emotional motivations, and the role of storage in renters’ personal and professional lives. Respondents were distributed across genders (50% women, 49% men) and generations (Gen Z 23%, millennials 50%, Gen X 23%, baby boomers 5%). The survey was conducted online in March 2026. All percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.
About SpareFoot
SpareFoot helps people compare and reserve self-storage units online. By showing real-time prices and availability from facilities across the country, SpareFoot makes it easier to find a storage solution that fits your space, budget, and timeline.
Fair Use Statement
We welcome the use of these findings for noncommercial purposes, including news coverage and educational content. If you reference or share this data, please credit SpareFoot and include a link back to this page so readers can access the full study.
Maggie Stankiewicz
Maggie is a writer and senior content manager who brings a decade of content expertise to the wonderful world of self storage. By day, she blends data and human-driven storytelling to craft content you'll actually want to read. By night, you can find her dissecting horror films or hiking trails with her dog in the foothills of North Carolina.
