Anyone who has lived in the District can tell you that space is at a premium. Most apartments, condos, and townhomes have little closet space and a garage is a rare treasure. Many are turning to self-storage facilities in Washington, DC, to solve their storage woes.

Unfortunately, there are few storage facilities in Washington, DC, due to the limitations on land and building height. So most people looking for Washington, DC, self-storage units end up traveling a few miles outside the District to metro Virginia or Maryland to store those items that don’t fit at home but can’t be discarded. If you don’t have a car and instead rely on the Metro (as is true for many Washingtonians), this can be quite a challenge.

When looking for Washington, DC, self-storage units, among the key points to consider are:

1. The location of Washington, DC, self-storage, particularly with regard to transportation;
2. The amenities offered at the Washington, DC, storage facility of your choosing;
3. The feasibility of unit-based self-storage in Washington, DC, where the storage comes to you.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find self storage companies in Washington, DC, that fit your transportation needs

With few options for self-storage in Washington, DC, and if you don't have a car, one option might be renting a truck just for moving day if you don't plan to go to your self-storage unit more than just once or twice. But if you know you'll want to access your stored items frequently, take the extra time to find a location that's convenient so that you're not constantly spending cab money and/or relying on friends with cars to retrieve your belongings.

I recommend: Extra Space Storage offers a location on U Street that’s just a few blocks from the U Street-Cardoza Metro station. Storage USA has a location just north of the Capitol, allowing access to storage units in Washington, DC, for those in this rapidly re-developing area.

Choose one of the self-storage facilities in Washington, DC, with extra security

While the District is an increasingly safe place to live and work, there are always concerns about security just like any other major city. When you're choosing among Washington, DC, self-storage units, take the security offered into consideration. A Washington, DC, storage unit that offers on-site security is preferable to one that relies on remote monitoring and CCTV cameras.

I recommend: ezStorage offers several metro Washington, DC, self storage facilities, and features top-of-the line security measures. From resident managers there on-site to computers that limit access, they take security for storage units in Washington, DC, seriously.

Consider Washington, DC, self-storage that comes to you

One of the newer innovations in self-storage is the unit-based solution. Marketed under several brand names, these units are large metal packing crates that are delivered by the Washington, DC, self storage company to your doorstep. You pack the crate there at home, and then they pick it up and take it to their metro Washington, DC, storage facility. This eliminates the hassle of transportation on your part.

I recommend: 1-800-PACK-RAT offers unit-based self-storage locations in Northern Virginia and East Washington. Between these two locations, it covers the majority of the metropolitan DC area.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Put a date on every box you put into self-storage in Washington, DC. If you haven't touched a box in more than a year, it might be time to discard the contents and be able to downsize your self-storage needs.