Queens Self-Storage Index: A Complete Guide to Storage in NYC

Self-storage is booming. In 2024, the market was valued at $44.3 billion, with 1 in 5 Americans turning to self-storage operators for extra space. Average occupancy across the country hovers around 84%, reflecting a widespread interest in and need for storage solutions.

With notoriously small apartments and closets in the Big Apple, New Yorkers are familiar with the need for storage space. To meet the population’s needs, NYC offers more than 40,800 storage units, with total inventory surpassing 24.1M square feet. In 2025 alone, 451,291 square feet were completed, more than tripling 2024's addition of 96,000. Queens alone provides more than 7.7M square feet of storage space for residents and businesses to store furniture, clothing, vehicles, tools and more.

Why Queens Residents Need Self-Storage

Queens ranks #3 in the nation and #1 in New York City for smallest new apartment sizes, with new units averaging just 702 square feet. They used to be even smaller—the average has increased by 39 square feet in the past decade, primarily driven by development of two- and three-bedroom units. Including older buildings, the average apartment size is 679 square feet, ranging from 333 square feet for studios to 1,233 for three bedrooms.

Though units are small, each square foot of space comes with a high price tag. With an average monthly rent of $4,252, Queens renters spend about $6 per square foot per month. And more square footage doesn’t always equal more storage space, as builders constructing new apartments may prioritize coveted amenities like in-unit washer/dryers, dishwashers, balconies, or larger kitchens over an additional closet. NYC’s Department of Housing and Preservation Development even lowered minimum closet requirements for government-assisted multifamily new construction from 19 to 12 square feet, further disincentivizing developers from providing more storage space.

For the 45% of Queens residents who own their home, space also comes at a premium. Average prices for one-to-three-family homes surpassed $1 million in 2025, and the median price per square foot is $1,183. Compare this to the national median of just $154.70 per square foot. While there are no doubt priceless benefits to living in New York City, the cost of home ownership is not one of them. 

Who Uses Queens Self-Storage Units (and Why)

With more than 2.4M people speaking over 160 languages, Queens is home to a diverse array of individuals with special storage needs, including students, vehicle owners, business owners and more.

Students

NYC hosts a post-secondary student population of more than 503,000, attracting pupils from around the world to continue their education at institutions like St. John’s University and the City University of New York system.

Self-storage is an important tool for college students. Housing contracts frequently leave students with a gap between the end of an academic year and the beginning of the next one. This means they must find somewhere to put their dorm supplies for the summer, or simply throw them away – and contribute to the 649 pounds of trash generated by college students annually.

For many students, simply taking their furniture, clothes and other belongings back to their childhood home is not an option. Even if their parents have room for the extra items, transporting them all is at best a hassle, if not extremely costly. A cross-country move averages $1.5K to $3K, and that’s just one way. Come first day of classes, the student will need to move everything back into their new dorm.

A short-term storage unit near the college is the perfect solution, empowering students to easily move out for the summer and back in for the fall, without the stress or financial burden of a big move or having to re-buy every item.

Vehicle Owners

Though New York has the lowest rates of car ownership in the country, parking is a hot commodity. For the 63% of Queens households which own at least one vehicle, it can be challenging to find a safe, affordable location to park.

With only about 27% of the total New York workforce commuting by car, many car owners keep a vehicle for more occasional needs and do not access it every day, or even every week. For these residents, vehicle self-storage offers a guaranteed space and peace of mind. It is not always easy to come by in New York, but people living or working in Queens can find month to month gated parking for rent at Storage Post’s locations in Long Island City, Ozone Park and Ridgewood.

Another key consideration in Queens is airport proximity. If a New Yorker will be traveling for a month or longer, a secure parking space at a self-storage facility is far more cost effective than long-term parking at either LaGuardia or John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Small Business Storage

NYC is home to more than 200,000 businesses, including more than 183,000 small businesses. There are countless reasons business owners or other decision makers may invest in self-storage including:

• Housing inventory for ecommerce businesses, or brick-and-mortar retailers with limited on-site storage space
• Storing furniture and supplies during an office renovation or relocation
• Keeping physical records as required by laws for hospitals, law firms and similar organizations
• Storing heavy equipment and other supplies near jobsites for blue-collar businesses

Film Industry

New York plays a pivotal role in the global film industry, contributing 185,000 jobs and more than $81 billion in annual economic output in 2019, the most recent year this data was collected. Queens is best known for the historic Kaufman Astoria Studios, built in 1920. Filmmakers also turn to Silvercup Studios or brand-new Borden Studios, both in Long Island City, for productions in the borough.

Where there are film studios, there are props, costumes, set pieces, lighting equipment and all kinds of other items that producers may need to stow until their next project. Self-storage is ideal, allowing essential items to be stored near film facilities, minimizing transportation costs and encouraging sustainable film practices by making it easier to reuse gear, props and costumes.

Shooting in Queens? Storage Post’s Long Island City location is right next door to Silvercup Studios East and just across the bridge from Borden Studios, offering secure, climate-controlled storage.

Additional Needs

Holiday Decorations: 35% of Americans buy new holiday decorations every year, filling up storage bins and closet space quickly. Self-storage is ideal for seasonal items, allowing Queens residents to keep their homes festive without having to limit their holiday spirit to what they can fit in their apartment year-round.

Renovation Storage: NYC’s home improvement market is valued at $12.2B, the largest in the United States. It’s usually recommended to remove any furniture to avoid damage during the renovation. With a short-term storage unit, homeowners can ensure their furniture is protected throughout the renovation, with flexibility to extend their lease if the project takes longer than expected.

Heirlooms and Collections: Many people inherit family heirlooms they don’t currently have room for but would like to keep. Others collect items like books, records or antiques and surpass their in-home storage space. For people in these circumstances, climate-controlled self-storage is a great solution to protect and store their items.

Key Factors When Choosing a Self-Storage Unit in Queens

Climate-Controlled Storage in Queens

Throughout the year, typical temperatures in NYC range from about 28°F to 85°F, with extremes in the teens and low nineties. The good news for self-storage users is that Queens rarely reaches temperatures high enough to damage most items. However, cold winters and high humidity still make climate-controlled storage units ideal, especially for those storing valuable or delicate items.

When storing items like these, a climate-controlled storage unit is essential to prevent damage:

• Electronics: frequent temperature changes and high moisture can deplete battery life and contribute to rust, corrosion, or other damage.
• Furniture: moisture absorption can lead to warped, cracked or rotted wood, and cold, humid climates can make leather turn brittle, lose color or tear.
• Musical Instruments: condensation and extreme temperatures can severely damage musical instruments, altering tone and playability.
• Paintings and Photographs: heat can fade or melt ink, while cold temperatures can make photographs or canvases brittle. Moisture also causes damage.

Accessibility

Whether using their own vehicle or renting for the day, many self-storage users rely on a car or truck to safely transport items to and from their storage unit. On-site parking is a huge asset, ensuring customers do not have to lug antiques, heavy tools or jam-packed bins down city sidewalks from the nearest street parking space. Drive-up units take this a step further, offering direct access from the vehicle to the storage unit. This amenity is invaluable to residents with larger storage needs, and customers can find it at each of Storage Post’s Queens locations.

Additionally, approximately 11% of New Yorkers are disabled – that’s one million people. For these residents, amenities like elevators, on-site parking and ground-level or drive-up units are important to ensure they can access their unit.

Lease Lengths

Desired lease lengths can vary wildly among Queens residents. Students away for the summer or homeowners conducting renovations may need just a few months, while other residents and businessowners may need to lease a storage unit for several years. Frequently, storage unit customers extend their lease a little longer than anticipated, such as if an apartment or office move is delayed. Flexible and month-by-month leases are desirable to provide all customers what they need, even if plans change.

Average Storage Costs in Queens

The average cost for self-storage in Queens generally ranges from $150–$400 per month, depending on size, location, and whether the unit is climate-controlled.

For maximum cost savings, Queens residents can opt for lockers over traditional units. Lockers often offer about as much space as a standard small unit, but for a much more affordable price. Several Storage Post locations offer mini 5x5 lockers beginning at just $9/month, including Long Island City. For the cost of a nice cup of coffee or a few rides on the subway, Queens residents can secure safe, climate-controlled storage for their belongings.

Neighborhood Breakdown

Queens is a truly global borough. Its population represents more than 200 nationalities, and it’s home to both LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airports. One of NYC’s most expensive neighborhoods for self-storage, Hunter’s Point, is found here, among the borough’s many historic and interesting neighborhoods. Some key areas residents are searching for self-storage solutions include:

• Astoria
• Bayside
• Corona
• East Elmhurst
• Flushing
• Forest Hills
• Glendale
• Howard Beach
• Jackson Heights
• Jamaica
• Kew Gardens
• Long Island City
• Maspeth
• Ozone Park
• Ridgewood
• Rockaways
• Steinway
• Sunnyside
• Woodside

How Storage Post Supports New Yorkers with Queens Storage Needs

Storage Post provides a wide array of storage solutions for residents and businesses in Queens and across the five boroughs. Including its three Queens locations in Long Island City, Ozone Park and Ridgewood. Storage Post has 15 NYC locations, as well as several more in nearby New York and New Jersey suburbs. Storage Post meets a variety of New Yorkers’ self-storage needs, offering:

• Climate-controlled units
• Parking for cars, motorcycles, and even over-sized vehicles like RVs and boats
• Units ranging from small 5x5’ lockers to extra-large 10x20’ units
• Accessibility amenities including drive-up and interior loading, elevators, on-site parking, dollies and hand carts
• Commercial accounts and shipping services
• Optional Tenant Elite Protection Plan to insure goods
• Safety features including 24-hour video recording, secure gated access and motion-activated lighting
• Readily available boxes, packing and moving supplies

Self-storage inventory in NYC surged in 2025, reflecting New Yorkers’ need for adequate space to keep their most valuable possessions. While average apartment sizes in Queens have increased over the past decade, we project the high cost per square foot will continue to make self-storage units an attractive option.

Queens is characteristically New York – teeming with cultural diversity, commercial excellence and artistic spirit. While so many different people call the borough home, there’s one thing they all have in common: everyone could use a little more space.

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