On-site storage vs off-site storage – which one is right for you?

Having storage is important. In this day and age, people are getting wealthier, but what is lacking for many individuals is free space, especially in an urban environment. This is why many entrepreneurs decided to open storage facilities. However, there are many different storage options, and the biggest rivalry is on-site storage vs off-site storage options.

Of course, choosing the right storage option depends on your needs and abilities, but there are certain objective advantages and disadvantages with those two options. So, on-site vs off-site storage – which one is right for you?

Let’s dive in!

Security of on-site storage vs off-site storage. Is one option safer than the other?

There is a misconception that off-site storage units are safer. While it is true that on-site storage units usually do not have cameras in each unit, mobile storage units are still pretty safe.

On-site storage vs off-site storage. One camera is looking at on-site storage, one at off-site storage.
Sure, on-site storage units don’t have cameras inside, but there is a low chance that someone will break in your storage. On-site storage units are more secure than vast majority of homes.

On-site storage units are safer than your home, and that is saying something. Only you can lock and unlock them, and it is your choice where you want to put it. Sure, off-site storage offers a little bit more protection, but that protection is pretty marginal when compared to on-site storage units. One can say that on-site storage is a perfect storage unit.

So, when it comes to security, differences are quite minor. You don’t have to worry about the security of your on-site storage unit!

Ease of access

This one is a no-brainer. There is a reason why portable storage exists, and it is because of its ease of access. The main advantage of on-site storage units is their accessibility.

It is quite easy to move the on-site storage units. All you have to do is to call the company that provided you with portable storage and tell them where you want to move your personal storage. You can’t do that with off-site storage obviously.

Easy access is important in a few situations. Maybe you are renovating your home and you want to have a secure place in your backyard for your belongings. Or maybe you are moving to another location, and having portable storage is the most efficient way to transport your stuff to another location.

What costs more?

When it comes to the cost of hiring storage, off-site storage unsurprisingly is cheaper. And that is for a reason. You are not able to move your storage to another location, and if you want to place a thing or get something from your storage, you have to personally go to the location of your storage unit.

But this brings us to a question: Is the total cost of renting an off-site storage unit always cheaper than renting an on-site storage unit.

Here is what we mean. Let’s make an assumption that you have hired an off-site storage unit. If you plan on keeping your stuff for a long time in an off-site storage unit, then great, get off-site storage.

On-site storage vs off-site storage? For both you need money out of the wallet.
When it comes to rivarly – on-site storage vs off-site storage, in terms of costs, on-site storage takes the win, but that doesn’t always have to be the case.

Off-site storage units are certainly less costly for long-term storage options. You’ll get the stuff you need from your storage unit from time to time. However, if you need to have everyday access or access on weekly basis, on-site storage solutions might even be cheaper. You’ll spend less time and no fuel to get to your storage.

When it comes to getting to off-site storage, in total cost you have to include the time you are going to spend and the fuel you are going to use just to get there and come back.

Also, if you are planning a relocation, it might be a good idea to have on-site storage. Just imagine how much money, energy, and time you are going to spend getting all the things from your off-site storage unit and into the truck. You have to pack your stuff, declutter, and so on.

Can you see in the dark?

One of the biggest complaint companies got in the old times is that there is no lighting inside of on-site storage units. And this was a minor inconvenience indeed. However, today there are on-site storages that have lighting on the inside, and most of them are painted white on the inside. Just ask our friends from Zippy Shell of Greater Philadelphia, and they will tell you that lighting is not a problem in today’s on-site storage units.

In the old days, this was a problem. If you wanted to get something from an on-site storage unit, you had to turn on your battery lamp every time. Also, some people are scared of the dark (and no this isn’t something you should be ashamed of, fear of the dark is natural), and having a dark and ominous on-site storage unit can be quite scary. Thankfully, this is no longer a problem.

Man gong into red night.
Fear of the dark is not something to be ashamed of. Many people are afraid of dark and they would dare to go into their on-storage unit at night alone.

Conclusion – On-site storage vs off-site storage

Both storage options have their own advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it is indeed a wiser choice to have an off-site storage unit. So, let’s reiterate.

  • When it comes to ease of access, on-site storage units take the point here. The whole purpose of on-site storage units is to be more accessible than old-school off-site storage units. Off-site storage is more of a long-term storage solution.
  • But because of that, on-site storage units tend to cost more. However, that doesn’t always have to be the case. In some situations, the total cost of an off-site storage unit might be bigger than that of an on-site unit.
  • Lighting was better in off-site storage units, but today that doesn’t have to be the case.

So, what is better?

Off-site storage is great if you want to have a long-time storage solution that you won’t visit often. But when it comes to ease of access, and if you want to get that extra space in your backyard, on-site storage is a natural solution.

In the end, it all depends on what your needs are and what you expect from a storage unit. So, the answer to the question of on-site storage vs off-site storage which is better, is – it depends.