6 Signs It’s Time to Change Your Self-Storage Unit Mix

Self-storage demand continues to grow, but simply having storage units available is no longer enough to stay competitive. Today’s successful facilities offer a strategic mix of unit types and sizes that match local demand.
If your facility’s layout hasn’t changed in years, you could be leaving revenue on the table. A unit remix—adjusting your unit sizes, layouts, and offerings—can increase occupancy, improve rental rates per square foot, and attract new types of tenants.

Here are six signs it may be time to rethink your unit mix. 

1. You’re Not Getting the Most Out of Your Current Mix

If your facility has lower occupancy rates than nearby competitors—or if certain unit sizes rarely rent—it may be time for a change.

A unit remix can help you better align your offerings with what customers actually need. In many cases, removing or adding walls to adjust unit sizes is a relatively simple and cost-effective way to increase rental revenue per square foot.

Analyzing which units are consistently rented and which sit empty will help determine the best mix for your market.

2. Demand for Climate-Controlled Storage Is Growing

Today’s tenants increasingly prefer climate-controlled storage to protect sensitive belongings such as furniture, electronics, documents, and collectibles. 

If converting your entire facility isn’t feasible, consider adding a dedicated section of climate-controlled units. This allows you to capture higher-value tenants while maintaining other traditional unit types like: 

• Roll-up door units
• Swing-door units
• Standard storage spaces

Even a small climate-controlled section can significantly increase revenue potential.

3. You’re Sold Out—or Have Underutilized Land

If your facility is at capacity, expansion might be the next logical step. But expanding doesn’t always require purchasing more land or constructing new buildings.

Relocatable storage units offer a flexible solution. These units can be installed quickly without the need for extensive construction or slab work.

Benefits include:

• Fast installation
• Minimal permitting requirements
• Immediate rental availability
• Potential tax advantage because they’re classified as equipment 

This makes relocatable units a practical option for facilities looking to increase capacity quickly.

4. You’ve Acquired a Facility That Needs Rehabilitation

Purchasing an older facility can present a great opportunity to increase revenue—but only if the layout matches current market demand.

Remixing the unit layout allows owners to create a balanced mix of unit sizes and types, such as:

• Smaller units (5x5 or 5x10)
• Traditional units (10x10 or 10x20) 
• Lockers
• Climate-controlled storage
•  Specialty storage options

For example:

• Facilities in areas with many apartment renters often benefit from more small units.  
• Facilities in suburban neighborhoods with homeowners may see higher demand for larger units.  

Aligning your layout with your local demographic can dramatically improve occupancy rates.

5. You’re Missing the Millennial Market

Millennials represent a growing portion of the self-storage market. Many live in apartments, condos, or townhomes without garages, creating demand for smaller storage solutions.

Lockers and compact units are ideal for storing: 

• Bikes
• Kayaks
• Paddleboards 
• Skis and snowboards
• Outdoor gear

Offering smaller, affordable units allows customers to pay only for the space they need, making your facility more appealing than competitors with only larger units. 

6. You’re Not Taking Advantage of Specialty Storage

Adding niche storage options can help differentiate your facility and attract new customers.

One example is wine storage. Properly designed wine storage units can:

• Provide climate-controlled conditions for wine collections
• Be stacked vertically to maximize space
• Offer a premium service not commonly available at most facilities

With wine consumption increasing and collectors needing secure storage, this can be a unique and profitable addition.

How to Maximize Unused Space at Your Facility

If your property includes unused parking areas, grassy land, or high ceilings, you may already have opportunities to expand without major construction.

Here are a few ways to maximize underutilized space:

Install a Mezzanine

Facilities with high ceilings can add a mezzanine level to create additional units. In some cases, this can double your rentable square footage without expanding the building footprint.

Add Lockers Above Existing Units

Lockers can often be stacked above traditional units, creating revenue from space that would otherwise remain unused.

Use Relocatable Units on Idle Land

If zoning or permitting restrictions prevent traditional construction, relocatable storage units may still be allowed since they're classified as equipment rather than permanent structures.

This allows you to add rentable space faster and start generating revenue sooner. 

Use Market Research to Guide Your Unit Mix

Before making changes to your facility, analyze your current layout and occupancy trends.

Start by asking questions like:

• Which unit sizes are consistently rented?
• Which sizes remain vacant the longest? 
• Do any unit types have a waiting list?

 Local demographics should also influence your decisions.

For example:

•  Near universities: smaller units and lockers are ideal for students storing items during summer breaks. 
•  Near retirement communities: larger units may be needed for storing furniture during downsizing. 

Matching your unit mix to your market ensures your facility stays competitive and profitable.

R3: Experts at Reconfiguring Unit Sizes to Match Current Market Demand

Investing in the right unit mix takes careful planning and expertise. Finding a partner with experience and market insight matters. The R3 team of renovation and retrofit experts at Janus can help you review your existing unit mix, tailor a new mix to your existing space and implement the new layout in a matter of weeks to help your facility stay competitive and profitable.

Learn more about how to save on your unit remix here