U-Haul Self Storage Review 2024

Move.org compared storage features and analyzed more than 3,500 quotes from 8 self-storage companies to see where U-Haul ranks.
Wide availability
uhaul
3.2 out of 5 stars
3.2
  • pro
    Low prices
  • pro
    Thousands of locations
  • con
    Poor customer reviews
U-Haul average price
Industry average price
Learn more
$158$190
Kurt Manwaring
Feb 15, 2023
bullet5 min read

Bottom line: U-Haul doesn't make our best storage unit companies because of its poor customer reviews. On the upside, U-Haul has a wide availability, low prices, doesn’t charge administrative fees, and its prices are the same whether you order online or in the store.

pro
Pros
pro Low prices
pro No administrative fees
pro Identical online and in-store prices
pro Thousands of locations
con
Cons
con Poor customer reviews

See where U-Haul ranks on our list of the the best self-storage companies.


U-Haul self-storage compared to other companies

While U-Haul doesn't make our list of best self-storage companies, it's low average price of $158 is undeniable. See how U-Haul stacks up against the top self-storage companies in the industry.

Company
Move.org rating
Avg. price
Total square feet
Learn more
4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8
$160150 million
4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6
$210180 million
4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2
$160Varies
4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1
$16040 million
3.6 out of 5 stars
3.6
$23070 million

Pricing and approximate square footage as of October 2022. Prices may vary by location and are subject to change.


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How much does U-Haul self-storage cost?

U-Haul self-storage costs about $158 per month. Move.org analyzed more than 3,500 quotes and found that U-Haul is typically about 20% cheaper than the industry average. Prices range from about $90 for a small climate-controlled storage unit to around $310 for a large one with climate control. Because U-Haul has lots of one-time deals, it can be tough to say how much your storage unit will cost.

U-Haul self-storage pricing

Storage unit size
Standard storage unit
Climate-controlled storage unit
Small (5x5–5x10 ft.)$70$90
Medium (5x15–10x10 ft.)$140$170
Large (10x15–10x30 ft.)$280$310
Vehicle$100$130

Data as of 10/21/22. Prices include online estimates for storage unit costs, insurance, and taxes. Size ranges, offers, and availability may vary by location and are subject to change.

U-Haul self-storage cost factors

bullet
What does climate control mean?

Climate control means that your storage unit maintains a consistent temperature and humidity range (think heating and air conditioning).

Several things affect the cost of renting a storage unit from U-Haul:

  • Size. Larger units typically cost more than smaller ones. On average, the price for small units without climate change is around $70 and $280 for a large one.
  • Availability. Prices go up as the number of available units goes down (think supply and demand). You can save money by getting quotes from several local U-Haul storage facilities and picking the cheapest option.
  • Climate control. Storage unit companies say that these specialized units cost anywhere from 20–50% more than standard units. However, our research shows that U-Haul’s climate-controlled units are about 5% cheaper (because of sales).
  • Online sales. Self-storage companies lose money the longer their units are empty. That means you can almost always get big discounts if you search around online and compare quotes at a few different U-Haul locations.
  • Taxes and insurance. Neither of these is part of your U-Haul quote, but you still have to pay them (mandatory insurance ranges from $7.95–$35.95 per month).

Looking for affordable climate control?

U-Haul self-storage coverage options

U-Haul has four self-storage coverage options available through its Safestor® Insurance. Costs range from $7.95–$35.95 per month, with coverage amounts from $1,000–$15,000. U-Haul Safestor Insurance is ideal for people who have moved (or are about to) who don’t yet have homeowners insurance. Rather than go through a time-consuming homeowners insurance approval process, you just click on the Safestor option you want. It’s a big time saver.

Note: U-Haul charges a $100 deductible for each successful claim.

U-Haul Safestor Insurance protection limits

Coverage amounts
Monthly cost
$1,000$7.95
$5,000$10.95
$10,000$20.95
$15,000$35.95

Data as of 12/30/21. See your self-storage rental agreement for all Safestor terms and conditions.

What does U-Haul Safestor Insurance cover?

U-Haul Safestor Insurance protects against many perils:

  • Building collapse
  • Burglary
  • Earthquake
  • Explosion
  • Fire
  • Hail
  • Hurricane
  • Leaking water
  • Lightning
  • Smoke
  • Tornado
  • Vandalism
  • Vermin
  • Wind

U-Haul’s Safestor® Insurance provides up to $15,000 in coverage against fire damage of a storage unit.

What doesn’t U-Haul Safestor Insurance cover?

U-Haul Safestor Insurance doesn’t cover theft, mysterious disappearance (though it’s not 100% clear what this means), war, flood, or climatic conditions (like rust or mildew). You may also want to avoid storing the following items that aren’t covered:

  • Jewelry
  • Furs
  • Money
  • Artwork
  • Antiques
  • Securities
  • Documents
  • Motorized vehicles


U-Haul self-storage features and services

Nationwide availability

No one knows how many storage locations U-Haul has (not even U-Haul), but it’s a lot. We asked them to give us a number but got different answers. One rep said there are more than 21,000 U-Haul storage facilities (there aren’t), and several others said they don’t know.

We think it’s probably safe to say that U-Haul has at least 2,000 storage facilities, ranking it alongside Public Storage (2,000-plus locations) and Extra Space Storage (2,000-plus locations) as the nation’s largest storage companies.

Identical online and in-store prices

U-Haul has the same price for storage units whether you make a reservation online or at a U-Haul facility. By contrast, most storage unit companies oftentimes charge about 30% more if you order at the storage facility.

Storage unit size guide

U-Haul’s online storage unit size guide makes it (mostly) painless to figure out what size of storage you should get. Whether you’ve run out of storage space at home or need some extra room during your remodel, the site has details for several different storage unit sizes (all of its units are eight feet tall):

  • Storage lockers (ranging from 4 x 6–4 x 8 feet)
  • 5 x 5 feet
  • 5 x 10 feet
  • 5 x 15 feet
  • 10 x 10 feet
  • 10 x 15 feet
  • 10 x 20 feet
  • 10 x 25 feet
  • 10 x 30 feet

Things to know about U-Haul self-storage

Low prices

U-Haul has affordable storage units. Its average price of $158 per month is about $30 lower than the industry average. That’s a savings of about 20% compared to other storage unit companies.

(Really) bad customer service

U-Haul isn’t known for great customer service. It routinely gets the lowest customer review scores out there. U-Haul’s average rating of 3.2 out of 5 stars is almost three stars lower than the industry leader Extra Space Storage. We’ve repeatedly camped out on hold (expect to wait at least 30 minutes) only to find out that the customer service reps often don’t have answers to even basic questions. It's worth noting that U-Haul has worsened in customer service ratings since last year's review.

You know what you get with U-Haul: low prices and poor service. The question is: are you willing to settle for poor customer service if the price is right?


Our recommendation

U-Haul is worth considering if you value price and convenience over customer service. It’s not one of Move.org's best self-storage companies, but it has detailed insurance info and doesn’t charge administrative fees. U-Haul’s main weakness is customer service: it’s bad.

Do you need low-cost storage?

Other self-storage picks

Looking for a company with better customer service? Check out our reviews of these highly-rated storage unit facilities:


U-Haul self-storage FAQ

Does U-Haul have good customer service?

No, U-Haul doesn’t have good customer service. The company routinely scores poorly with customers who complain about surprise fees, long hold times, and incorrect information.

What kinds of moving services does U-Haul have?

U-Haul is mainly known for its rental truck moving services, but it also rents storage units and moving containers and sells moving supplies. You can also rent a tow dolly and car trailer from U-Haul.

Can I store a trailer at a U-Haul storage unit?

Yes, you can often store a trailer at a U-Haul storage unit. Ask a U-Haul representative about the size of its vehicle storage units to see if your trailer will fit.

Can I get a car rental at U-Haul?

No, you can’t get a car rental at U-Haul. However, the company rents pickup trucks and cargo vans in addition to larger moving trucks.

How much does it cost to rent a U-Haul storage unit?

It costs approximately $158 per month to rent a U-Haul storage unit. Prices range from about $70–$280 depending on factors such as size and availability.

How many truck size options does U-Haul have?

U-Haul has four truck size options (in addition to a pickup truck and cargo van):

  1. 10-foot truck
  2. 15-foot truck
  3. 20-foot truck
  4. 26-foot truck

Methodology

Move.org calculates industry averages and identifies pricing trends by following a fivefold research approach:

  1. Compare quotes. We collected more than 3,500 quotes from 8 different companies in 5 cities. We analyzed prices with and without climate control for more than a dozen storage unit sizes.
  2. Analyze reviews. We looked for patterns among storage companies’ customer reviews to ensure our analysis considers what customers think.
  3. Mystery shopping. We called companies posing as customers and visited select storage facilities in person.
  4. Research. We researched industry features, services, and requirements such as storage unit insurance, company discounts, climate control specifications, and security details.
  5. Annual calendar. We repeat this process every year and save our data so that we can compare trends over time.
Kurt Manwaring
Written by
Kurt Manwaring
Kurt Manwaring brings nearly a decade’s worth of research experience as a business consultant to the Move.org team. He specializes in taking complicated issues (like moving) and presenting them in a way that everyone can understand. His writing has been featured in hundreds of publications, including USA Today, Martha Stewart Living, Country Living, Good Housekeeping, Heavy, Slate, and Yahoo! Lifestyle. He brings a BS in sociology and an MPA (masters of public administration) to the Move team. He would love to hear about your moving experiences and questions at kurt@move.org.