A third of U.S. residents use self-storage units, with another 18% planning to rent a unit in the future, according to a report from StorageCafe. Renters are more likely than homeowners to use a self-storage unit, with people living in one-bedroom apartments representing 44% of the self-storage market.

The Yardi Systems-owned service reports that online searches for self-storage services have increased 88% since 2020. Meanwhile, 58.5 million square feet of rentable storage space were constructed in 2024 alone.

The West region leads the U.S. in demand for self-storage units, according to StorageCafe. Factors driving self-storage interest in the West include high demand from students and people in small living spaces who have limited at-home storage. The South region placed second, driven by the Southeast’s growing economy and increasing population.

Carson City, Nev., led the way in self-storage demand among cities. Nevada’s capital city has seen a 7% population increase over the past five years, per the StorageCafe report. Washington state, Oregon, Montana and New Mexico each had two cities in the top 10.

Among major metropolitan areas, StorageCafe pegs Tucson, Ariz., as having the highest potential storage needs. The Tucson metro area has the 10th smallest average apartment size, according to the report, while the area also has large senior and student populations.