Washington Self Storage

Looking for storage in Washington?

Washington is one of the largest self storage markets in the country–for good reason. The state supports the full gamut of self storage renter lifestyles, from boating and recreation to higher education and military. You can find out more about self storage in Washington through the Washington Self Storage Association (WA-SSA.org).

StorageFront helps Washington public storage renters find the features they need. As the most advanced self storage finder on the web, StorageFront lists nearby facilities in urban areas (including Seattle, Spokane, Everett, Tacoma, Bellevue and Vancouver) as well as rural areas (like Yakima and Port Angeles).

In coastal towns like Port Angeles, Aberdeen and La Push, use StorageFront to shop and compare prices on boat storage space. In college towns like Pullman (Washington State), Seattle (University of Washington, Cornish School, Art Institute), Tacoma (Puget Sound) and Olympia (Evergreen), use the search tool to find small, affordable units nearby with short-term contracts to cover summer break. In influential medical towns like Seattle, find climate-controlled space for storing pharmaceutical inventory. Forks residents with an overstock of Team Edward and Team Jacob t-shirts, you’ll find an affordable mini storage unit to use until the next Twilight saga event on StorageFront.com.

In military towns like Lakewood (McChord Air Force Base), DuPont (Fort Lewis), Silverdale (Kitsap Naval Base) and Oak Harbor (Whidbey Island NAS), you’re likely to find great deals on military storage for long-term deployments no matter where you rent a storage unit. Still, it’s smart to shop around-especially since many self storage facilities located near bases operate at capacity and storage units aren’t always available.

See below for more helpful tips about storing in Washington. For general help, see Storage Tips.

Climate

Washington’s geography, especially the Cascade Mountain range, produces two vastly different climates in western and eastern Washington. Western Washington is often greatly influenced by the ocean, and is much wetter and milder than Eastern Washington. Mild, humid, summers west of the Cascades rarely rise above 80°F, and winter days seldom drop below 40°F while the east of the state has warm summers and cool winters.

Western Washington is ranked as the wettest of the 48 continuous states. Be sure to look for storage facilities with good drainage. When selecting your storage unit, choose one with a stepped-up entry, good flashing and sturdy seals around the door. Do not place boxes directly on concrete floors, but place on pallets or skids to prevent moisture absorption.

Climate controlled storage units should be considered as humidity (dampness) can affect the welfare of your stored items – especially over extended periods of time. Wood, paper and fabrics are particularly vulnerable.

Crime

Be sure to Google “crime rates in Washington cities” before choosing a storage facility. Currently, the highest property crime rates are in Seattle and Spokane, Washington, followed by Tacoma, Bellevue, Everett, Kent, Bellingham and Auburn. If the property crime rate and/or violent crime rate is high in your area, you’ll want a facility with added fencing and security amenities, such as video surveillance and 24-hour lighting. Ask the facility manager about any recent break-ins or safety issues. Purchase insurance for your property.

Culture

There are many migrant Mexican-American farm workers living in the state. If Spanish is your first language, shop for a storage facility with bilingual staff. StorageFront points to bilingual facilities with a small speech-bubble icon. Clear communication will be helpful if you have problems or concerns during your rental period.