The growth of the self storage market in Europe
The European self storage market has been growing steadily for years. While self storage has been a mature industry in the United States for decades, Europe is still at the beginning of an enormous growth curve. This presents opportunities for operators who invest in the right technology now.
Numbers that speak
According to FEDESSA (Federation of European Self Storage Associations), the European self storage market has grown by an average of 7–8% per year over the past five years. There are now more than 6,000 self storage locations across Europe, with a total lettable area of over 12 million square metres.
The Netherlands: a growth market
The Netherlands currently has more than 400 self storage locations. Learn more about self storage software in Europe. The penetration rate — the number of square metres of self storage per capita — is still considerably lower in the Netherlands than in the United Kingdom or Scandinavia. This means there is ample room for further growth.
Driving forces behind the growth
Several factors are fuelling the growth of self storage in Europe:
- Urbanisation – More and more people are living in smaller homes in cities, increasing the need for extra storage space.
- E-commerce – Small entrepreneurs and online shops need flexible storage solutions for their inventory.
- Moves and life events – Divorce, renovation and bereavement are constant drivers of temporary storage demand.
- Growing awareness – Consumers are becoming increasingly familiar with the concept of self storage.
Technology as a differentiator
In a growing market, technology is the key to success. Operators who invest in modern management systems like MyYounit set themselves apart through a better customer experience, lower operational costs and higher occupancy rates. Automation enables you to scale efficiently without proportionally increasing headcount.
Penetration rate: how far along are we really?
European self storage penetration varies widely by country. The United Kingdom sits at around 0.7 m² of storage per capita, Scandinavia at 0.4-0.5 m². The Netherlands is still around 0.15 m², Germany even lower (0.08 m²) and Southern Europe under 0.05 m². For comparison: the United States is at 2.8 m² per capita.
What does that mean? Even if Europe were to reach half of the US level, that implies a tenfold increase in a country like Germany. Growth is not in mature markets such as UK or Sweden — it's mainly in the Benelux, DACH and Southern Europe, where the market still has plenty of room.
By country: opportunities and challenges
United Kingdom: mature market with dominant chains (Big Yellow, Safestore). Competition is high, but acquisitions of family businesses by larger groups create exit opportunities.
Germany: 1,200+ locations and growing fast. Major urban areas (Berlin, Munich, Hamburg) have capacity shortages. Read our article on self storage in Germany.
France: fragmented market with around 800 locations. Strong in Paris and surroundings; much of the countryside virtually empty. Opportunities for regional chains.
Netherlands: 400+ locations, with the NSSA active in market development. The country's logistics position makes the Netherlands attractive to pan-European investors.
Belgium: smaller market (~150 locations) but growing. Brussels and Antwerp interesting. Read our article on self storage in Belgium.
Scandinavia: mature market, high penetration. Innovation lies in operational excellence and sustainability.
Southern Europe: Spain and Italy still in early stages. Urban self storage is conceptually new there, which gives a first-mover advantage.
Driving forces behind the growth
Several factors are fuelling the growth of self storage in Europe:
- Urbanisation: more and more people are living in smaller homes in cities, increasing the need for extra storage space. An average urban household has 8-12% less space than a decade ago.
- E-commerce and SMEs: small entrepreneurs and online shops need flexible storage solutions for their inventory. Self storage as a logistics alternative to warehouse space is growing fast.
- Moves and life events: divorces, renovations, inheritances and international labour migration are constant drivers of temporary storage demand.
- Growing awareness: consumers are becoming increasingly familiar with the concept of self storage. Ten years ago this had to be explained, now it's common knowledge.
- Demographic shifts: ageing leads to home downsizing and therefore storage needs; younger people move more often with uncertain living situations.
- Climate and circular economy: more specialist short-term storage for seasonal items, climate-controlled storage for wine/electronics/art.
What investors look for in 2026
Interest from institutional players (REITs, private equity) has surged over the past four years. What separates attractive locations from unattractive ones?
- Occupancy rate consistently above 90%
- Fully digital operation (bookings, payments, access)
- Multi-location potential within a 50 km radius
- Low operational costs per unit (typically below 6 euros/unit/month)
- Clean legal structure (own property or long-term lease)
In other words: a well-digitised location is literally worth more than a manually run location with the same square metres and revenue. A large part of the exit-multiple uplift comes from the fact that the operation is scalable and transferable.
Technology as a differentiator
In a growing market, technology is the key to success. Operators who invest in modern management systems like MyYounit set themselves apart through a better customer experience, lower operational costs and higher occupancy rates. Automation enables you to scale efficiently without proportionally increasing headcount.
The future
Experts expect the European market to double over the next ten years. The greatest opportunities lie with operators who invest in technology and automation now. Discover how an unmanned facility maximises returns. MyYounit helps you seize those opportunities with a system that grows alongside your ambitions.