What a 5×5 costs nationally.
There is no single primary source for a national 5×5 median rent in 2026. Yardi Matrix publishes a per-sqft figure for the combined-mix portfolio. SpareFoot publishes all-size all-type average. Public Storage publishes a 5×5 specific figure in its 2026 price guide. We triangulate.
The triangulated 5×5 figure: $45/mo
Yardi reports a national average of $16.34 per square foot per year (May 2026 data via Multi-Housing News), which is $1.36 per square foot per month for the combined-mix portfolio. On a 25-sqft base that equals $34.04/mo — but small units carry a per-sqft premium because operating cost amortises over fewer paid square feet. SpareFoot's 2026 small-unit guidance puts 5×5 at $35-$60/mo nationally. Public Storage's 2026 published price guide lists a national-average 5×5 at $47/mo — $45 standard (non-climate) and $51 climate-controlled (verified 2026-07-29). The triangulated figure $45/mo sits between Yardi's per-sqft implication and SpareFoot's all-operator guidance.
YoY change: -2.2%
Yardi Matrix's national advertised street-rate index declined 1.8% YoY in May 2026 (1.9% in April 2026) for the combined mix of unit sizes. Our 5×5-specific triangulation moved from approximately $46/mo in 2025 to $45/mo in 2026 — a 2.2% decline. The softening reflects Sun Belt oversupply (Phoenix, Cape Coral, Glendale CA) pulling national averages down faster than coastal undersupply markets (Boston, SF, NYC) can pull them up.
The spread: $29/mo to $167/mo
The cheapest verified 5×5 rolling rate in our dataset is Fort Worth, TX at $29/mo — climate-controlled, post-promo. Texas oversupply. Public Storage McCart Ave climate-controlled rolling. The $23 Beach St non-climate unit in the same market is a $1-first-month promo, not a rolling rate, so the cheapest post-promo figure is the $29 climate low.
The most expensive verified 5×5 rolling rate is Boston, MA at $167/mo — climate-controlled. Climate-controlled rolling rate. Yardi flags Boston as lowest supply per capita (0.7 sqft) and highest YoY rent growth (+9.7% Mar 2026).
What drives the spread
- Supply per capita. Boston (0.7 sqft per capita) and SF (~3.2 sqft) are at the bottom; Texas / Florida cities (6-8 sqft) are at the top.
- Climate control demand. Phoenix and Houston have near-universal climate-control adoption in 5×5 inventory; Pacific Northwest is split; Boston is universal because of winter humidity cycles.
- New construction pipeline. Phoenix at 6.5% of inventory under construction (highest in nation per Yardi) keeps Phoenix flat-to-declining despite climate demand. Portland OR at 0.5% has supportive pricing.
- Migration patterns. Domestic migration into the Sun Belt cooled sharply in 2025. Florida's net domestic migration fell from roughly 184,000 in 2023 to about 23,000 in 2025 (Census Bureau), pushing it out of the top spot it had long held. Demand is softening at the same time supply is delivering — the worst dynamic for pricing.
Sources
- Yardi Matrix May 2026 (June national report): https://www.yardimatrix.com/blog/self-storage-market-outlook/
- SpareFoot industry stats: https://www.sparefoot.com/blog/how-much-does-a-storage-unit-cost
- Public Storage 2026 price guide: https://www.publicstorage.com/blog/public-storage/the-complete-guide-to-storage-unit-prices-in-2026.html
National 5×5 pricing, answered.
Why is there no single national price for a 5x5 storage unit?
No operator publishes a 5x5-specific national figure. Yardi Matrix reports a combined-mix rate per square foot ($16.34/yr, May 2026), SpareFoot reports an all-size all-type average, and Public Storage's 2026 guide lists a national-average 5x5 figure ($47/mo — $45 standard, $51 climate-controlled). None of these is a national 5x5 median, so the ~$45/mo figure here is a labelled triangulation of the three, not a single published number.
How is the ~$45/mo national 5x5 figure calculated?
Yardi's $16.34/yr per square foot equals $1.36/sqft/mo, or $34.04/mo on a 25-sqft base — but small units carry a per-sqft premium, so the true 5x5 sits higher. SpareFoot's 2026 small-unit guidance is $35-$60/mo and Public Storage's 2026 price guide lists 5×5 at $45-$51/mo ($45 standard, $51 climate-controlled, $47 national average). The triangulated ~$45/mo sits between Yardi's per-sqft implication and the operator guidance.
Are 5x5 storage prices going up or down in 2026?
Down. The 5x5-specific triangulation moved from about $46/mo in 2025 to $45/mo in 2026, a 2.2% decline. Yardi's national advertised street-rate index for the combined unit mix fell 1.8% year over year in May 2026. Sun Belt oversupply is pulling averages down faster than tight coastal markets can lift them.
Which US city has the cheapest and most expensive 5x5 storage?
In this dataset the cheapest verified rolling rate is Fort Worth, TX at about $29/mo climate-controlled (Texas oversupply). The most expensive representative rate is Boston, MA at up to $167/mo climate-controlled — Boston has the lowest US supply per capita (~0.7 sqft) per Yardi.