Do storage units have outlets or electricity?

Most don’t. Of the 8,857 storage facility websites we read, only about 4 in 100 say they have outlets inside units. A typical unit has a light on the ceiling and nothing to plug into.

Facilities have a few reasons for leaving power out. 10 Federal Storage, a storage operator, explains that “unsupervised electrical access poses a serious fire hazard,” and that adding power can run into building codes or change how the property is classified. SecureSpace adds two more: wiring every unit is expensive, and power makes a unit more tempting as a place to live.

Even where a building has wiring, renters usually can’t use it. CubeSmart’s rules and regulations list connecting to “any electricity” serving the facility as a prohibited use. The Self Storage Association notes that without outlets, tenants can’t charge lithium-ion batteries in their units, which removes one fire risk.

Power does exist at a minority of sites. On this site, 349 facilities confirm outlets inside units, and 251 confirm power at RV, boat, or car spaces. Independent operators list it more often than chains.

If you need power, don’t assume. Ask the facility which unit has an outlet, how many amps it carries, what you’re allowed to plug in, and whether power is billed separately. Then make sure the lease names that unit as one with power.

For the full picture, with the chains, the numbers, and what we found on each facility’s site, read our guide: Do storage units have outlets?