Storage Units Ottawa — Move-In & Move-Out Help, Climate-Controlled Options & Combined Moving + Storage
Why Ottawa renters use Men In Trucks for storage moves
Renting a storage unit on your own is the easy part. The hard part is loading the unit efficiently — stacking boxes for fragile/heavy hierarchy, leaving an aisle so you can reach the back, wrapping mattresses and sofas to keep mice and dust out, and using vertical space without crushing the bottom row. Most DIY storage move-ins waste 30–40% of cubic feet, which means you end up renting a 10×10 when a 5×10 would have fit.
Our crews load storage units like Tetris champions because we do it 4–6 times a week. We bring shrink wrap, mattress bags, blankets, and 4-wheel dollies. We document the unit before and after with photos. And because we’re fully insured, your belongings are covered both in transit and during loading — not just when they’re sitting in the unit. See our full Ottawa moving service.
Storage move services we offer
Move-In Only
2 movers · 16-ft truck · 1-hr min
- Pickup from your home / apartment
- Drive to your chosen storage facility
- Load unit with strategic stacking
- Photo documentation before lock
- Typical: 5×5 / 5×10 / 10×10 in 1.5–3 hr
Combined Moving + Storage
3 movers · we book the unit + truck
- We arrange the storage unit for you
- Pickup → storage → final delivery
- Climate-controlled options included
- One contract, one invoice, one team
- Best for cross-Canada moves & reno gaps
Move-Out / Retrieval
2 movers · 16-ft truck · 1-hr min
- Empty your unit at end of rental
- Deliver to new address (Ottawa or beyond)
- Sort & donate / junk on the way out
- Re-wrap fragile pieces for transport
- Final unit photo for your records
Ottawa storage unit sizes — what fits where
Holds: small studio worth (boxes, lamps, 1 chair). Typical Ottawa rate: $70–$110/mo.
Holds: 1-bedroom apartment (queen bed, dresser, 25 boxes, sofa). $120–$195/mo.
Holds: 2-bedroom apartment (full bedroom set, sofa, dining, 50+ boxes). $200–$310/mo.
Holds: 2-3 bedroom condo or small house. $325–$420/mo.
Holds: 3-bedroom house, including appliances & small vehicle. $340–$520/mo.
Holds: 4-bedroom house, all furniture, full appliance set. $480–$680/mo.
Pricing note: rates above are for non-climate-controlled units at established Ottawa facilities (Dymon, Storwell, Sentinel, Make Space, Access). Climate-controlled units typically run 15–25% more — worth it for electronics, leather furniture, art, photos, wood instruments, and anything you’d store from October through April when Ottawa basements get cold.
Ottawa storage facilities we work with daily
| Facility | Best for | Locations |
|---|---|---|
| Dymon Storage | Climate-controlled, 24/7 video, drive-up | Hunt Club, Innes Rd, Hawthorne, Bells Corners, Stittsville |
| Sentinel Storage | Heated units, business storage | Hunt Club, Belfast Rd, Cyrville |
| Storwell | Affordable, large units | Hunt Club, Innes |
| Make Space | Pickup-and-store (we deliver to their warehouse) | West-end facility, citywide pickup |
| Access Storage | Wide footprint, RV/boat storage | Greenbank, Hunt Club, Innes, Carling |
| U-Haul Storage | Bundled with rental trucks | Carling, Hunt Club, Innes, Bells Corners |
Don’t see your facility? We deliver to every storage operator in the Ottawa region — including independent operators in Kanata, Stittsville, Barrhaven, Orleans, Cumberland, and Manotick. We don’t take referral fees from any facility, so our recommendation is based on your actual needs (climate, access hours, drive distance from your home), not commissions.
How storage move-ins work — 5 steps from booking to lock
| Step | What happens | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Book the move | 2-min form: pickup address, storage facility name + unit number, item list. $100 deposit. | 2 minutes |
| 2. Day-of confirmation | SMS with crew names & arrival window. We confirm the storage facility’s access hours and gate code with you. | Day before |
| 3. Pickup & pad-wrap | Crew arrives, photographs items, wraps fragile pieces in pads, secures in truck. | 30–90 min |
| 4. Unit load | Strategic stacking: heavy on bottom, fragile on top, aisle preserved, mattresses & sofas wrapped against pests & dust. | 45 min–2 hr |
| 5. Photo + sign-off | We photograph the loaded unit, you lock it, sign the digital job sheet, pay balance. | 5 min |
When to use combined moving + storage (vs. separate contracts)
Combined moving + storage saves time, paperwork, and usually money on these scenarios:
Cross-Canada moves with a gap: Closing on your Ottawa house July 15, taking possession in Toronto August 5? We pick up July 14, store in Ottawa or near your destination, deliver August 5. One contract, one invoice. See long-distance movers Ottawa.
Renovation overflow: Kitchen reno will run 6 weeks; appliances & cabinets need to be out. We pick up Friday, store at our partner facility, return when contractor calls.
Downsizing & estate transitions: Moving from a 4-bedroom into a 1-bedroom condo, but waiting on family decisions about heritage furniture? Store the “maybe” pile while we move the “keep” pile. Pairs naturally with our senior movers service.
Snowbird storage: Heading to Florida October–April? Store the patio furniture, BBQ, garden tools, kayaks, and bikes in a 5×10 climate-controlled unit. We pick up the week before you fly, deliver back the week after you return.
For a deeper breakdown of when storage rental beats outright moving, see our Ottawa moving cost guide.
Frequently asked questions — storage units Ottawa
How much do storage units cost in Ottawa?
Most popular size in Ottawa is the 10×10 (1-2 bedroom apartment), running $200–$310/month at Dymon, Storwell, Sentinel, and Access. Climate-controlled adds 15–25%. The smallest 5×5 lockers start around $70/mo; the largest 10×30 units run $480–$680/mo. Most facilities require a one-time admin fee ($25–$45) and offer a free first month for 3+ month commitments.
Do I rent the unit, or do you?
Either works. Most clients rent directly because facility websites are now mostly online — you pick the size, sign digitally, get a gate code in 10 minutes. If you’d rather hand it off, our combined moving + storage tier ($195/hr) includes us booking the unit on your behalf, billed back to you at facility cost (no markup). Tell us at booking which approach you prefer.
What size unit do I need?
Quick rule: 1 bedroom = 5×10, 2 bedroom = 10×10, 3 bedroom = 10×15, 4+ bedroom = 10×20 to 10×30. Round up if you have appliances, gym equipment, or a lot of long furniture (sectionals, dining tables for 8+). Use our room-by-room inventory tool to estimate cubic feet, or send us a video walkthrough of your home and we’ll size the unit for you within 30 minutes.
Is climate-controlled worth the extra cost?
Yes for: leather furniture, electronics, photos, art, wood instruments (guitars, pianos), wine, and anything cardboard-boxed for more than 3 months. No for: lawn equipment, plastic patio furniture, BBQs, bikes, tools, and short-term (under 30 days) storage of furniture. Ottawa basements can hit -5C in February in unheated units, and humidity swings warp wood. The 15–25% premium is small compared to a $4,000 leather sectional with mold.
How fast can you do a storage move-in?
Same-day if booked before noon. Most 5×10 and 10×10 jobs run 1.5–3 hours total (pickup, drive, load, lock). Larger units (10×20+) run 4–6 hours. May 1 and end-of-summer are our busiest windows — book 5–7 days ahead during those weeks.
Will my stuff be safe in the unit?
Yes — major Ottawa facilities (Dymon, Sentinel, Storwell, Make Space, Access, U-Haul) all run 24/7 video surveillance, gated access with personal codes, and on-site staff during business hours. Our crews always provide a photo of the locked unit at sign-off so you have visual proof of what was inside, in what condition, on what date. Add facility insurance (typically $10–$30/month) for declared-value coverage.
Can you move stuff OUT of a unit, not just in?
Yes — same hourly rate. Tell us the facility, unit number, and gate code. We arrive, photograph the contents, load the truck, and deliver to your new address. Common pairing: snowbirds returning in April, students moving from a summer storage stint into a September lease, and homeowners closing on a new house after a months-long sale gap.
Do you store stuff at your own warehouse?
Not directly — we’re a moving company, not a storage operator. But our combined moving + storage tier coordinates with our partner facilities (Dymon, Make Space, Storwell) for short-term, mid-term, and long-term storage. You get one invoice from us covering both the move and the storage rental, billed monthly until you ask us to deliver.
Can students store stuff over the summer?
Absolutely — this is one of our most-booked services. uOttawa, Carleton, and Algonquin students typically rent a 5×5 or 5×10 from May to August. We pick up from your residence, dorm, or rental on May 1, store for 4 months, deliver to the new place by September 1. Total all-in cost typically lands $400–$650 (move + 4 months storage). See our Sandy Hill student movers page for details.
Related Ottawa moving + storage resources
· Combined moving + storage Ottawa — one-team end-to-end service
· How much do movers cost in Ottawa? — full pricing benchmark
· Ottawa apartment movers — elevator + stairs + condo specifics
· Long-distance movers Ottawa — cross-Canada + storage hand-offs
· Senior movers Ottawa — downsizing + storage transitions
· Room-by-room inventory tool — size your unit before you book
· Full pricing page — all 3 tiers + flat-rate options
Ready to schedule your storage move?
2-minute booking · $100 deposit · 178+ five-star Google reviews · same-week availability
Book storage move now → Call (613) 999-3000Ottawa storage unit sizes — what fits, what costs, and how to choose
Most Ottawa renters overpay for storage by 30–60/month because they sized up "just in case". The reality: a careful 4-question sizing pass nails the right unit eight times out of ten. Below are our 3 most-used unit tiers, what fits in each, and the inputs we use during a free phone sizing call.
Book move-in help — From 140/hr Combined moving + storage3 storage-unit tiers Ottawa renters book most
Roughly the floor space of a hallway closet, 8 ft ceiling.
- Studio/1-BR seasonal swap (winter tires + bins)
- 15–20 medium boxes + 2 small chairs
- Mattress on edge + 4 boxes + bike
- Climate-controlled available
About a single-car garage — the most-booked tier for 2-BR moves.
- 2-BR apartment contents (no bulky exercise gear)
- Sofa + queen bed + 30 boxes + bike
- 1-BR plus seasonal patio furniture
- Climate strongly recommended for upholstered items
Roughly 1.5-car garage — for full home contents in transition.
- 3-BR townhouse contents during a sale
- Sectional + king bed + 50 boxes + appliances
- 2-BR plus piano or hot tub on dolly
- Climate often required (full home)
How to size your Ottawa storage unit in 4 questions
- What’s your bedroom count today? 1-BR → 5×5 / 5×10. 2-BR → 10×10. 3-BR+ → 10×15 / 10×20.
- Are upholstered items going in for >30 days? Yes → climate-controlled. Ottawa’s humidity swings May–September will mildew fabric in an ambient unit faster than people expect.
- Anything that exceeds 8 ft on its longest side? Standard ceiling is 8 ft; sectional sofas, leaning headboards, and 9-ft Christmas trees need a wider footprint, not a deeper one.
- Will you need to access mid-storage? If yes, leave a 24" aisle down the middle. That typically pushes a 10×10 candidate up to a 10×15.
5 new questions about storage units in Ottawa
Climate-controlled vs. ambient — when does the upcharge pay off?
Ambient units run 10–20°C below ambient air temperature in summer (Ottawa hits 30°C+ regularly) and approach freezing in January. Climate-controlled holds 13–24°C year-round at 30–55% relative humidity. The rule we use: if you have leather, wood furniture (not pressed-wood IKEA), electronics, vinyl records, photos, or anything you would not store in an unheated garage, the 25–45/month climate upcharge pays back the first summer in avoided warp/mildew.
What insurance covers contents in storage?
Most storage facilities require contents insurance — either through their in-house program (typically 8–15/month for 2,000 coverage) or proof of a homeowner/tenant rider. We always recommend the rider route if you already pay tenant insurance: most policies cover off-premises personal property at 10% of contents limit, which on a typical 60,000 policy is 6,000 — plenty for a 10×10 unit. Check your declarations page for the "off-premises" coverage line.
Do you book units with 24/7 access?
Yes. We coordinate move-ins to facilities with 24/7 keypad access at Walkley Rd, Hawthorne, Bells Corners, Kanata, and Orléans. Daytime-only facilities are 10–20% cheaper per month but lock you out 8 PM–6 AM, which becomes a problem if your closing day moves to evening. Ask us during the sizing call which facilities currently have 24/7 + climate combined; the inventory shifts monthly.
What can’t I store in an Ottawa storage unit?
Provincial rules + facility policy cap a few categories: live plants, perishable food, hazardous materials (propane tanks, paint cans more than 1/3 full, automotive fluids), firearms or ammunition (unless the facility is a licensed sporting goods storage), and operable vehicles inside non-vehicle units. Most facilities also restrict humans/animals living in the unit overnight. Pre-pay storage agreements list the full prohibited-items schedule.
Month-to-month vs. prepaid — which is cheaper?
Month-to-month gives you exit flexibility for a 0–8% premium versus prepaid. Prepaid 3-month, 6-month, or annual contracts typically discount 5–18% in exchange for a non-refundable lock-in. Our rule: if your move-in is a gap during a sale or renovation under 60 days, pay month-to-month. If you are storing during a 4+ month long-distance assignment or sabbatical, the annual prepaid wins by 15–20%. Long-distance + storage combos typically get the better prepaid discount.
