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6 Best Storage Companies in Florida of 2023

By James F. Trumm MONEY RESEARCH COLLECTIVE

September 30, 2022

If you ever get the feeling that you have too much stuff or too little space, you’re not alone. Approximately one in ten American households are renting storage units, and many businesses do too.

Two trends are driving this hunger for more space. First, American families, for better or worse, are acquiring more material possessions. These possessions include bulk purchases from retailers like Costco, Big Lots, BJ’s Wholesale Club, and other big-box stores that encourage people to stock up on everything from toilet paper to lentils. And second, as Baby Boomers move into their sunset years and begin to downsize, all the things they’ve acquired need to go somewhere.

If you live in Florida and are looking to store some of your possessions, this guide is for you. We’ve examined over a dozen companies that have a robust presence in the state and figured out which ones excel in certain areas. Read on to see which ones we picked as the best places to store stuff in the Sunshine State.

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Our picks for best storage companies in Florida

At first glance, one storage company may look like any other. You know the picture of the outside: rows of long buildings with steel doors that you can drive up to. And inside, you know the concrete floors and the corrugated metal walls.

The differences among Florida storage companies, then, are largely invisible – but nonetheless real. Chief among them are their business models. Some offer an array of helpful services, while others emphasize the do-it-yourself side of storing and moving. Some have hundreds of locations throughout the state, while others concentrate on just a few areas. Some offer climate-controlled facilities, while others are more at the mercy of Florida’s sweltering summers. And some seem to go out of their way to offer great personal service, while others . . . not so much.

Bear in mind that many of the best moving companies also offer storage facilities to their customers–so when you’re searching for storage, you might also want to give moving truck rental companies and moving container companies a call. And as you consider storage fees, remember that if those charges are part of a move by an active member of the armed forces, those moving expenses may be tax-deductible.

In this article, we’ve tried to figure out which companies do the best at meeting particular customer needs. Here’s what we found.

Best overall: Public Storage
Best for climate-controlled storage: Southern Self Storage
Best for vehicle storage: Extra Space Storage
Best for commercial storage: Simply Self Storage
Best for personal storage: Compass Self Storage
Best for wide availability: Life Storage

Best storage companies in Florida reviews

Want to know why we made those choices? Check out our reasons for making the picks we did and see how each of these eight companies excels in at least one area.

Headquartered in Glendale, California, Public Storage has storage facilities in 99 different Florida cities and towns – and multiple locations in many of them. The company has been in business since 1972 and has earned high praise from tens of thousands of customers.

Hundreds of locations throughout Florida
Offers personal, business, vehicle, RV, boat, and climate-controlled storage
Rated 4.8 out of 5 by 42,740 customers on Trustpilot
A- rating from the BBB
Contactless contracts
Excellent website design makes finding information easy
Reasonable rates

Franchise model can lead to variations in service
No specialty storage for wine, fine art, pianos, etc.
No moving services or truck rental

Why we picked it: While there are other companies that have numerous locations throughout Florida, few can match Public Storage’s record of customer satisfaction. The entire rental process can be handled online or by phone, allowing customers to go directly to their units without stopping in an office to complete paperwork. The website has good maps and unit size visualization tools to help customers choose their location and unit size. Gates and doors can be opened automatically through the Public Storage app.

Bottom line: While bigger doesn’t always mean better, Public Storage has managed to be both. The company’s 50-year history, phenomenal growth, and high consumer ratings suggest that Public Storage does a lot right.

Southern Self Storage devotes considerable resources to providing climate-controlled storage for people who wish to store items that are sensitive to temperature, humidity, and sunlight. Although it’s a newer company (founded in 2016 in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida), it’s established itself as a go-to for those who require something more than an uninsulated, unheated steel box.

Climate controls can be individually adjusted in each unit
Both humidity and temperature can be regulated
Storage charges can be paid through the website

Few consumer reviews available
Only available in 9 Florida cities
No facilities in Miami, Tampa, or Orlando

Why we picked it: Although Southern Self Storage doesn’t have as many Florida outlets as some of its competitors, it offers storage units with individually-adjustable temperature and humidity controls. All Southern Self Storage locations have video surveillance and many have an onsite resident manager. Though the company doesn’t have many customer reviews for its Florida locations, reviews from other states praise the company’s employees for their service and helpfulness. The website has a good write-up about climate-controlled storage units that candidly acknowledges that they are inherently more costly than ordinary storage units.

Bottom line: Southern Self Storage’s individually climate-controlled units are a premium product and, unsurprisingly, come at a higher price than regular units. But if preserving your stored items is important to you, it may be an extra cost worth paying.

Of all the storage companies in Florida we looked at, Extra Space Storage stood out for the energy and thought it puts into vehicle storage. What’s more, it has locations in 96 Florida cities, which means that most Floridians will be able to store their car, truck, motorcycle, RV, ATV, trailer, or boat close to where they live.

Indoor, outdoor, and outdoor covered storage options
Month-to-month rental agreements
Drive-up access to vehicle storage units
Wide variety of vehicles can be stored, including commercial vehicles
Very informative website section on vehicle storage

Mediocre consumer reviews
No 24-hour access (hours are 6 AM to 10 PM)

Why we picked it: Established in 1977 and based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Extra Space Storage makes a real effort to attract and inform customers who want to store their vehicles. The company has a broad definition of “vehicle” and offers multiple storage options. We were impressed that its website features videos and articles about how to prepare your vehicle for storage. Its blog features article on the factors that can affect boat, RV, and car and truck storage rates. While many storage companies seem to treat vehicle storage as an afterthought or sideline, Extra Space Storage makes it a major focus of its business. Because it’s one of the larger storage companies in the US and does business in 41 states, it has more consumer complaints than smaller storage operations do, but when viewed as a percentage of the number of its outlets and customers, it seems that only a tiny portion of Extra Space Storage customers are dissatisfied with their service.

Bottom line: We learned more about vehicle storage from Extra Space Storage’s website than from any other source. This company clearly understands the unique needs of people who want vehicle storage and offers a wider range of vehicle storage options than most other companies.

When some storage companies say they offer commercial storage, what they really mean is that commercial customers are welcome to rent their ordinary storage units. Not Simply Self Storage, though. This company offers units at most of its locations that are dedicated to commercial storage.

Climate-controlled commercial storage units are available
Package delivery
18 facilities in Florida
Contactless rental
Some units have electrical outlets

Not available in the Miami, Palm Beach, or Tallahassee areas
Only a few reviews on the BBB and Trustpilot websites

Why we picked it: Although it does business in 24 states and the District of Columbia, Simply Self Storage has Florida roots. The company is based in Orlando and has been in business since 2003. We were impressed by its understanding that the storage needs of businesses differ from those of individuals and its attempt to design its facilities around that idea. It makes a special effort to offer services to contractors, landscapers, painters, roofers, and retailers. Not all of the company’s outlets offer commercial storage, but Simply Self Storage’s website has a handy list of those that do, which could be a real timesaver for people searching for commercial storage in their area.

Bottom line: If your business needs storage, it makes sense to go with a company like Simply Self Storage that prioritizes and specifically caters to commercial clients.

Good customer service is particularly important to people who rent a storage unit for their personal possessions. Compass Self Storage gets high marks in that department on consumer review sites such as Trustpilot and has only a handful of complaints against it with the BBB. Most of the positive reviews specifically cite the company’s personalized customer service.

Scores high in customer satisfaction
31 Florida locations
Climate-controlled storage available
RV and boat storage
Month-to-month contracts
Packing supplies sold at storage facilities

Some complaints about rising storage fees
Website is occasionally glitchy

Why we picked it: No company that operates on the scale that Compass Self Storage does can make everyone happy all the time. But in an industry where most consumer reviews run negative, Compass stands out for the number of glowing reports about its customer service and the cleanliness, condition, and safety of its facilities. The company began in 1928 as a construction firm but then pivoted to the real estate and storage businesses. While it’s possible to find cheaper storage options, for customers who want excellent personal service and are willing to pay a little more for it, Compass is a superior choice.

Bottom line: Personal storage deserves personal attention. While Compass may charge a little more than its competitors, its longevity in business suggests that its customers are willing to pay for superior customer service.

With over a thousand locations in 38 states and 163 facilities in Florida alone, Life Storage is an obvious pick as the Florida storage company with the widest availability. What’s more, it’s clear that Life Storage does not sacrifice quality for quantity; it gets excellent reviews and grades with the BBB and Trustpilot.

Personal, commercial, vehicle, and wine storage available
Free boxes, tape and covers
Month-to-month contracts
Truck rental available at some sites
Some locations offer 24/7 access

Customer service quality can vary by location
A small number of BBB complaints involve billing disputes and late charges

Why we picked it: A company that offers superior customer service and a wealth of storage options is of no use to consumers if they can’t access one of their locations. Life Storage’s large Florida footprint ensures that most Floridians can easily get to one of their many facilities. The converse is true, too: a company that has numerous locations isn’t a benefit to consumers if it gives poor service. Life Storage appears to have found the sweet spot where accessibility and customer service meet. Although no company of this size can satisfy all its customers, the relatively few consumer complaints it has received have been addressed promptly and fairly.

Bottom line: If you live in Florida, you are likely near a Life Storage facility. And based on the company’s strongly positive consumer reviews, you’ll probably be very happy with their services.

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Best storage companies in Florida guide

Storage facilities are an increasingly common aspect of American life – especially in Florida. Here are some things to consider as you decide which storage company will best meet your needs.

Main things to know before renting a storage unit in Florida

Depending on where you live in the Sunshine State, the environment in Florida can be brutally hot, drippingly humid, corrosively salty, and/or terrifyingly windy. Those factors should be considered by anyone looking to store things long-term.

It’s not just fine art, pianos, and antiques that are susceptible to the Florida weather. Paper disintegrates more quickly in humid environments. Cars, motorcycles, and RVs rust more readily in the salty air. Furniture risks absorbing the moisture in the air and becoming moldy.

Many storage companies offer climate-controlled storage to protect your stuff from the elements. That costs more than basic storage, so you as the customer will have to balance the risk of damage to your things against that extra cost.

How much is the average cost of a storage unit per month in Florida?

Pinning down the “average” cost of a storage unit in Florida is like trying to pin a blob of mercury to the wall. We advise reading all articles that purport to list average storage costs with a very skeptical eye.

Move.org concludes that the average cost of a small unit is $70 a month, with medium-sized units going for $150 and large units costing $290. Sparefoot.com found that in 2017 the average price of Florida storage units was $88.68 per month statewide and $101.23 in Miami. That data, however, is almost six years old; prices have presumably risen since then.

We recommend that you not think in terms of statewide averages but instead view the cost in terms of the average charge you would have to pay for your particular storage load wherever you live. That means calling or visiting the websites of local storage companies and getting exact figures from them. That takes some work, but there’s really no other way to determine if the prices of any particular storage facility are higher or lower than the average cost of a comparable unit.

What are the different types of storage leasing?

Most consumer storage contracts run month to month. The devil, though, is in the details. Some storage companies require a 30-day notice of termination. Many impose late fees if you don’t make your payment on time and cleanup fees if you leave your unit in a mess.

Some companies offer substantial discounts to customers who pay by the year. We’ve seen some companies charge only 10 months of fees for 12 months of storage. We’ve noticed, though, that some companies seem reluctant to publicize those discounts, perhaps for fear that the higher annual fee might scare off more customers than the lower monthly fees. For that reason, it pays to ask if a storage facility you’re considering gives a discount for prepayment.

What do you need to rent moving storage?

To rent a storage unit, you’ll have to pay at least one month’s fees plus any setup charges imposed by the storage company. You’ll also have to sign a contract that, among other things, will list the things that are not allowed to be stored (in general, hazardous, illegal, invaluable, or living or dead things). You’ll probably be asked to provide some identification as well.

Prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic, many storage companies now have a “contactless” contract system that allow you to complete the paperwork online and receive access to your new unit without ever stopping into the storage facility’s office.

Best storage companies in Florida FAQ

What size storage unit do you need in Florida?

Some storage companies now feature a tool on their website that allows people to input a list of the items they plan to store and then receive an estimate of the minimum size of storage unit that would be required. As a rough estimate, though, the contents of one room may fit into a small (50 square foot) unit; the contents of three rooms may fit into a medium (150 square foot) unit; and the contents of five rooms may fit into a large (300 square foot) unit.

How long can you rent a storage unit in Florida?

Storage companies generally bill by the month. Some operate on a month-to-month arrangement which can be terminated at any time by either party. Some offer a discount for paying by the quarter, but even then consumers can usually cancel their contracts at any time, though there may be a financial penalty for doing so.

What things you can't store in a storage unit in Florida?

While each storage sets its own policies about what can and can't be placed in a storage unit, those prohibitions generally cover things that are illegal, expensive, dangerous, or disgusting. One list of prohibited items includes food, hazardous materials, stolen and illegal goods, weapons and ammunition, living things (and dead things, too), wet items, priceless and irreplaceable items, money, furs, tires, and unregistered or uninsured vehicles.

How we found the best storage companies in Florida

It all starts with a spreadsheet. We looked at 14 data points for the 14 companies we identified as having a significant presence in Florida. And then the research began. We considered each company’s offerings, its ratings by both consumer and professional reviewers, the length of time it had been in business, and the transparency and usefulness of its website. Some we eliminated from consideration due to consistently terrible customer service experiences. Others seemed like decent enough companies but didn’t really stand out in any particular area. The eight that were left after this process of elimination were those that we would be comfortable recommending to our readers, friends, and families.

Summary of the best storage companies in Florida of 2023

James F. Trumm

James F. Trumm has written and edited numerous articles about consumer finance, travel, literature, and other topics. He’s currently editing a book for the University of Toledo Press and hosting Wanderlust, a radio show about how travel changes people.