What Is the Average Cost of Storage Per Month?

The average cost of storage per month depends on what kind of storage you need, how much space you are storing, and where the storage is located. A self-storage unit, an on-site conex container, a portable pod, and a shed all solve the problem differently and cost different amounts. This guide compares the most common storage options side by side with real numbers so you can figure out which one makes the most sense for your situation and budget. For current pricing on conex storage container rentals in Indiana, visit rent.boltedbox.com.

20ft and 40ft one-trip conex containers side by side. On-site container storage is one of the most cost-effective options for commercial and jobsite use.

Average cost of storage per month by type

Here is how the most common storage options compare on monthly cost. These are typical ranges for the Indiana market, though prices vary based on size, location, and provider.

Storage Type	Typical Monthly Cost	Best For
Self-storage unit (10x20)	$60 to $180	Personal items, low-access needs
20ft on-site conex container	$150 to $210	Jobsite tools, equipment, materials
40ft on-site conex container	$170 to $240	Large projects, bulk materials
Portable pod (16ft)	$150 to $250	Residential moves, transitions
Built shed (10x20)	$3,000 to $7,000 one-time	Permanent on-property storage

Bolted Box 20ft conex container: $150 to $165 per four-week cycle, all-in with no-fees pricing

Bolted Box 40ft conex container: $170 to $185 per four-week cycle, all-in with no-fees pricing

No fuel surcharges, no property fees, no excise taxes. Delivery and pickup disclosed on your quote and billed once each.

The average cost of storage per month can shift significantly depending on what fees a provider adds on top of the base rate. A self-storage unit might look cheapest at $100 per month, but once you factor in the time and fuel cost of driving to the facility every time you need something, an on-site conex container at $165 per cycle can end up costing less in total. For more on how to evaluate storage costs on an all-in basis, see what is the most cost-effective storage solution.

Self-storage facility vs on-site conex container

Self-storage facilities are widely available and often have the lowest sticker price. But for commercial and jobsite use, the operational costs that come with them frequently erase that advantage.

Access. A self-storage unit has facility hours, gate codes, and shared hallways. An on-site conex container is available to your crew all day, every day, with no trips off site.
Transportation cost. Every run to a facility costs time and fuel. On a multi-week project with daily access needs, those trips add up fast and become a meaningful line item even if you never track them formally.
Security. A corten steel conex container with a welded steel lockbox is harder to breach than the thin roll-up doors common on self-storage units. Your tools stay on site and locked rather than sitting in a shared building.
Convenience. An on-site container is delivered to your location and picked up when you are done. A self-storage unit requires you to load a truck, drive to the facility, unload, and reverse the process every time you need access.

For personal storage, household items, and low-access needs, a self-storage facility is usually the cheaper and simpler option. For active jobsites, commercial operations, and anything where your crew needs frequent access, an on-site conex container wins on total cost and productivity. For a full comparison, see portable storage containers vs traditional storage units.

Is it cheaper to rent a pod or a conex container?

Portable pods and on-site conex containers both deliver storage directly to your location, but they serve different markets and the cost comparison is not as straightforward as it looks.

Pods: typically $150 to $250 per month plus delivery and pickup fees of $75 to $150 each way. Designed primarily for residential moves and household transitions. The construction is lighter than a steel shipping container, so security is adequate for household goods but not ideal for high-value commercial equipment.
On-site conex containers: $150 to $185 per four-week cycle at Bolted Box with no-fees pricing. Built from corten steel with a welded lockbox and weather-tight cargo doors. Designed for commercial and jobsite use where security, durability, and daily access matter.

A conex container arriving ground-level at a customer site. No ramps, no setup crew, ready to use the moment the truck pulls away.

If you are a homeowner moving or need temporary household storage, a pod service like PODS or UNITS is the right fit. Bolted Box rents to commercial customers only. If you are a contractor, project manager, or business that needs secure on-site storage for tools, equipment, and materials, a conex container is the stronger and usually more cost-effective option.

How much does a 20ft conex container cost to rent or buy?

The 20ft conex container is the most common size for commercial and construction storage. Here is what the average cost of storage per month looks like for this size, whether you are renting or buying.

Renting a new one-trip 20ft conex: $150 to $165 per four-week cycle at Bolted Box. Market rates across Indiana range from $145 to $210 depending on provider and fees.
Buying a new one-trip 20ft conex: typically $5,000 to $8,000 depending on supplier and market conditions.
Buying a used 20ft conex: typically $2,500 to $5,000 depending on age, condition, and location. Bolted Box sells used storage containers but does not rent them, because the condition variability is not acceptable for active jobsite use.

Bolted Box rents new one-trip conex containers only. Every rental unit arrives in like-new condition with smooth-operating doors, weather-tight seals, and a welded steel lockbox. There are no hidden fees, no minimum rental term, and the rate stays fixed for the life of the rental. For a deeper look at what drives 20ft container pricing, see how do I determine the right size of storage container for my needs.

Is it cheaper to build a shed or rent a conex container?

Building a shed and renting a conex container solve different problems, and the cost comparison depends on how long you need the storage and what you are storing.

Shed: materials and labor for a basic 10x20 shed typically total $3,000 to $7,000. It is permanent, can be customized, and requires no ongoing rental cost. But it requires a foundation, construction time, potentially a building permit, and ongoing maintenance. It is not portable if your needs change.
Conex container rental: $150 to $185 per four-week cycle at Bolted Box. It arrives finished, requires no construction, and can be removed when the need ends. It is more secure than a typical shed, with corten steel construction and a welded lockbox, and it holds up better in severe weather.

A conex container arrives finished and ready to use. No foundation, no construction crew, no build time, and it leaves when the project does.

For permanent storage at a fixed location where you plan to keep the structure for years, building a shed may make sense if you have the budget and the time. For project-based, temporary, or commercial storage needs, renting a conex container is the faster, more flexible, and usually more cost-effective path. For the full side-by-side breakdown, see is it cheaper to build a shed or buy a shipping container.

What factors affect the average cost of storage per month?

Regardless of which storage method you choose, a few factors consistently drive the cost up or down.

Size. Larger units cost more per month, but the cost per square foot typically drops as size increases. A 40ft conex container costs only modestly more than a 20ft but delivers double the floor space.
Location. Storage costs in urban areas and high-demand regions run higher than rural areas. Delivery distance also affects the cost of on-site containers.
Duration. Some providers offer lower rates for longer commitments. Bolted Box keeps the same rate from day one with no minimum term, so you do not need to commit to a longer rental to get a fair price.
Provider fees. Fuel surcharges, property fees, and excise taxes can push the real cost of a conex container rental 20 to 40 percent above the quoted base rate. No-fees pricing from Bolted Box eliminates all of these so the quoted rate is the actual rate.
Container condition. A new one-trip conex container costs more to stock than an older fleet unit, but it arrives with smooth doors, clean seals, and no rust. The reliability difference is significant on an active site.

For a full breakdown of what drives rental cost specifically in Indiana, see storage container rental cost in Indiana.

How to get the best deal on storage in Indiana

A few practical steps help you manage the average cost of storage per month regardless of which option you choose.

Get an all-in quote. Ask for the total cost including every fee, delivery, and pickup before you commit. If a provider cannot give you an exact number, that is a signal there are charges they would rather you discover later.
Choose the right size. Renting a 40ft conex container when a 20ft would handle the job means paying for space you are not using. Renting a 20ft when you need a 40ft means running out of room and potentially renting a second unit.
Compare apples to apples. A base rate of $155 plus fees is not cheaper than an all-in rate of $175. When comparing providers, always compare the fully loaded invoice, not the headline number.
Use the low price guarantee. If you find a lower qualifying all-in rate on a comparable one-trip conex unit from a local provider, Bolted Box will match it.

Inside a one-trip 40ft conex container: clean floor, smooth walls, and doors that work the way they should. That is what cost-effective storage looks like up close.