Storage unit insurance
Most US self-storage facilities require proof of insurance and sell their own protection plan for roughly $8 to $35 per month depending on the coverage limit. Many homeowner and renter policies already cover belongings stored off-site, typically at 10% of your personal property limit.
- $8–$35 / month
- Often already covered
- Mould usually excluded
Typical cost by coverage limit
| Coverage limit | Typical monthly cost |
|---|---|
| $2,000 coverage | $8–$12 / month |
| $5,000 coverage | $14–$20 / month |
| $10,000 coverage | $22–$35 / month |
Check your existing policy first
Cover should match what is actually in the unit — what fits in each size shows typical loads by size and all storage unit sizes what each one holds. Most US renter and homeowner policies extend to personal property stored off-site, commonly at about 10% of your personal property limit. On a $60,000 contents limit that is $6,000 of storage coverage you are already paying for.
Call your insurer, ask specifically about "off-premises personal property coverage", and ask for the declaration page in writing. Most facilities accept it and waive their own plan — worth $100 to $400 a year.
What facility plans usually exclude
- Flood and groundwater damage, in most facility plans
- Mould and mildew, which is the most common real-world claim
- Vermin damage
- Items you cannot document — photograph and list everything before it goes in
Before buying cover, check the climate-controlled cost — for the most common claim, a better unit beats a bigger policy. The mould exclusion is the one to read twice. It is the most common real-world storage claim and the one most often refused, which is also the strongest practical argument for a climate-controlled unit over an insurance upgrade.
Document everything before it goes in
What you store decides how much cover you need — what fits in each size gives a sense of typical loads by size. No policy pays for what you cannot evidence. Before the unit is loaded, photograph each item, keep a written inventory with approximate values, and store both somewhere that is not in the unit.
The size calculator produces a printable inventory list as a side effect of estimating your volume, which doubles as a claim record.
Related questions
Is storage unit insurance required?
Proof of coverage almost always is. Buying the facility's plan usually is not, if your own policy already covers off-site storage.
Does renters insurance cover a storage unit?
Usually yes, typically at around 10% of your personal property limit, with the same perils as your home coverage. Confirm the limit and get it in writing before declining the facility plan.
What does storage insurance not cover?
Commonly flood and groundwater, mould and mildew, vermin damage, and anything you cannot document. Read the exclusions rather than the coverage limit.