The Gwinnett County Storage Unit Report

Applying the Self Storage Association's documented 1-in-10 household storage rental rate to Gwinnett County's approximately 403,000 Census-counted households produces an estimated 40,300 local storage-renting households. At a national average of $128 per month for a standard 10x10 unit, the report estimates that Gwinnett County households spend approximately $61.9 million per year on self-storage. The report frames storage as a quiet financial drain driven by auto-pay, avoidance, long rental durations, and contents that often lose value or become unsalvageable over time.

• An estimated 40,300 Gwinnett County households currently rent self-storage units, based on the SSA national 1-in-10 household rental rate applied to 403,000 local households.
• At $128 per month for a standard 10x10 unit, those households collectively spend an estimated $61.9 million annually on storage rent.
• A standard 10x10 unit costs $1,536 for one year, $4,608 over three years, and $15,360 over a decade before rent increases are included.
• Industry data cited in the report indicates the average renter pays for 14.5 months despite often describing the need as temporary at move-in.
• More than 1 in 4 renters holds a unit for longer than two years, while only 1 in 4 visits a unit more than once a month.
• Veteran's Junk Removal LLC estimates that 20% to 25% of its cleanout calls involve storage units, often after customers calculate how much they have spent.

Research Partner

Veterans Junk Removal

Study ID

ASBRC-2026-017

Geography

Gwinnett County, Georgia

Industry

Junk removal and storage unit cleanouts

Research Area

Local Market Intelligence

Primary Data Sources

SpareFoot Storage Beat 2026, Yardi Matrix, January 2026, Self Storage Association Industry Statistics 2025 and 2026, WifiTalents Self-Storage Statistics 2026, U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, Gwinnett County 2024, SSA / IBISWorld 2024 self-storage industry benchmarks, StorageCafe and SpareFoot 2026 pricing and market context, Veteran's Junk Removal LLC operational data and client observations, 2026

Publication Date

July 2026

Status

Published

This report estimates that roughly 40,300 Gwinnett County households rent self-storage units and collectively spend about $61.9 million per year, while industry and cleanout data suggest many renters rarely visit units or reassess the value of what they store.

For Gwinnett County households, self-storage can function like an overlooked subscription with compounding cost. The report suggests that homeowners and renters should compare the value of stored contents against annual storage rent, reassess units before renewals and rent increases, and consider professional cleanout when the cost of storage exceeds the value or usefulness of the contents.

The estimated 40,300 Gwinnett County storage-renting households was derived by applying the Self Storage Association's documented national 1-in-10 household rental rate to the Census-reported Gwinnett County household count of 403,000. The $61.9 million annual spend estimate was calculated by multiplying that household estimate by the Yardi Matrix national average of $128 per month, annualized. Cumulative cost figures were calculated at flat-rate monthly averages and do not incorporate annual rent increases of 5% to 15%.

All Gwinnett-specific figures are estimates derived from published national rates applied to local demographic data. No Gwinnett-specific storage rental survey was conducted. The actual number of renting households may be higher or lower than estimated. The 80% unsalvageable rate for long-term units reflects the operational experience of Veteran's Junk Removal LLC and should not be treated as a peer-reviewed statistic. Cost projections assume static monthly rates; actual costs will vary.

• SpareFoot Storage Beat 2026
• Yardi Matrix, January 2026
• Self Storage Association Industry Statistics 2025 and 2026
• WifiTalents Self-Storage Statistics 2026
• U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, Gwinnett County 2024
• SSA / IBISWorld 2024 self-storage industry benchmarks
• StorageCafe and SpareFoot 2026 pricing and market context
• Veteran's Junk Removal LLC operational data and client observations, 2026

Denell Criss, owner of Veteran's Junk Removal LLC, reported that a substantial share of storage unit cleanout calls come from customers who are tired of monthly storage bills and often realize during cleanout that they spent thousands of dollars storing items with little remaining value.

• Full Report PDF: Full report PDFAvailable
• Executive Summary: Executive summaryAvailable
• Methodology: Methodology notesAvailable
• Citation: American Small Business Research Center. The Gwinnett County Storage Unit Report. ASBRC-2026-017. July 2026.Available
• Press Release: Press releaseAvailable
• Charts: ChartsComing Soon
• Media Kit: Media kitComing Soon

American Small Business Research Center. The Gwinnett County Storage Unit Report. ASBRC-2026-017. July 2026.

• Serving Those Who Served: Gwinnett County’s Veteran Business Community

Veterans Junk Removal. Research partners may provide topic context, access to subject matter expertise, or financial support for the research process. The American Small Business Research Center maintains editorial independence. Research partners do not determine findings, methodology, conclusions, or publication decisions.