Best of Toronto
The Best Self Storage in Toronto
Self storage solutions in Toronto isn't exactly the most captivating of cocktail party discussions (or blog posts, natch). But there comes a time in most of our lives when we need self storage. Whether it's temporary storage for a big move, storage space to supplement the new condo or apartment, or secret storage needed to store stuff as part of that fledgling, un-named side business, it's good to know where to turn for the best, most convenient storage solutions to meet your needs.
It's a good thing that Toronto has plenty of good storage options (as well as a bunch of lousy ones). Skip the places on Ossington that have inconvenient hours of operations, older facilities and few frills and work your way through this list instead where in many cases your sofas, side tables and stacks of boxes will be paired with the latest security solutions, climate-controlled facilities and 24/7 access.
For the uninitiated, the deal with most self storage places is that you pay in four week cycles with a minimum rental period of 28 days. After that they're month by month with bills pro-rated if you happen to clear out your storage unit earlier than expected. Many storage providers offer special rates for the first month or discounts on longer term rentals (6-12 months) or if you pre-pay. Rates depend on what size you're looking for, from a relatively affordable 5x5 unit that might be had for less than $100 and fit the contents of a bedroom; to a much larger 10x20 unit that could cost five times as much but store everything you've managed to collect over the years and stuff in your small house.
Worth considering is whether you need a storage unit that's on the ground floor, and if it's important to be able to drive your car or truck right up to the locker door. Otherwise, be prepared to use a dolly, make plenty of trips up and down a freight elevator or navigate your way through a maze of hallways to get where you need to go.
Ready to discover the world of Toronto self storage? Here are the 9 best self storage solutions in Toronto.
Spaces Self Storage
There's nothing like a brand new places to store your stuff. Spaces, which just opened in February at Broadview and Eastern Avenue has state of the art security, 24/7 access, a climate controlled building, packing supplies and even 4 hours complimentary use of a moving truck that you can borrow when you move in. A 7x10 unit costs $219 but a 50% discount is offered for the first month if you stay for at least 3 months. More »
All Canadian Self Storage
All Canadian has three locations in the Toronto area including a sprawling one on Laird Drive. Rates here are about average ($175 for a 5x10) but all units are climate controlled and there are plenty of ground floor units. Like many other places on this list, they also offer top notch security and packing supplies from their retail store. They also offer a mobile storage solution ($125 a month for a 5x10 container plus $180 delivery/return) and rent UHaul trucks for $19.95 a day plus 69 cents a km. Hours are a bit limited as 24/7 access is available by appointment only. More »
Planet Storage
Planet Storage is located in the historic Viceroy Rubber Plant near Dupont and Dundas. A 10x10 unit is only $190 plus there's 4 weeks free (based on minimum stay of 8 weeks) and a 10% discount available to students, seniors and corporate accounts. They offer all the user services/amenities including climate control, 24/7 access, packing supplies and good security. To get to most units you'll need to use a freight elevator and a dolly but some larger (and pricier) drive up units are available. More »
Tower Storage
Located on industrial Wallace Avenue right beside the tracks, Tower Storage offers a new facility and good rates. A 9x10 costs $196.54 (tax included) plus one month free, but watch out for the $10 one time fee for the gate access card. They have a retail store selling packing supplies, good security, climate controlled facilities and 24/7 access. Some units have drive up access but most will require a trip up a freight elevator. More »
AJ Self Storage
This self storage provider on Commissioners Rd. in the Port Lands is the best option if looking for drive up access. All units are ground level, outdoor access and rates are very reasonable ($185 a month for an 8x10 but current sale prices have it going for $152.75). The downside is that there's no climate control which means contents are subject to freeze in the winter - and it also meaning moving in/out during winter months can be a bit of a production. More »
Apple Self Storage
For storage needs as close to the downtown core as possible, Apple Self Storage near Adelaide and Bathurst is the place to go. A 10x10 costs $285 but a 10% discount is available if you pre-pay for one year. There are no ground floor units but security is tight, packing supplies are available and the entire building is climate controlled. Hours are on the restrictive side (6am - 10pm daily) but after hours access is available upon request. More »
Storwell Self Storage
Storwell Self Storage has three locations in the Toronto area with the closest one just off the Lakeshore on Evans Avenue. All units are available on the ground level and rates tend to be somewhat negotiable. Currently a 10x10 rents for $229 but there's a 10% off coupon available on their web site. The facilities are 6 years old and are humidity controlled. Some of the units are indoor and others are outdoor with the latter accessible via drive up access. More »
Public Storage
Public Storage has storage locations across Canada including quite a few in the Toronto area. Prices, storage unit sizes and amenities vary by location but the Junction and Liberty Village locations are decent options. A 5x10 in Liberty Village costs $135.45 tax included but the first month is only $1 (plus an $18 administration fee). Units are not climate controlled and hours are limited (7am - 9pm daily). More »
All City Storage
All City Storage has two locations in North America - one in San Marcos California and the other at Cherry St. and Eastern Avenue in Toronto. All units are climate controlled and there's the usual security offerings. A 7x10 unit costs $195 + GST. Drive up access is available for larger units (10x20) with most of the other storage options a freight elevator ride up to one of the 4 floors. 24/7 access is not currently available but will be offered soon. More »
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You want to live in the box? Cost you two bucks a day."
This is a dubious claim.
-- Anyways, I'm in Spaces as well, and have nothing but good things to say. Brand new place so it's hard to find anything to complain about. I just love having my own secret code and being able to get at my junk whenever I need to.
The wheely carts are great too, once you get the hang of them.
I think because they're new they're trying harder than the other guys, which is great.
mhmm
Drive to the storage place.
Unload it in multiple trips with a dolly up elevators and down hallways (sometimes having to wait for the elevator or loading dock)
When you want it back you have to rent/drive back out to the storage place
RELOAD your crap with multiple dolly trips up elevators and down hallways (sometimes having to wait for the elevator or loading dock)
Drive home
RE-UNPACK it again.
That is total bullsh*t!
That Pods company is the best.
They friggin' drive the box to your door.
You load it.
They come get it.
You want it back, you call them.
They drop it off.
You unload it.
The end.
I hate moving more than life itself and have done both ways and would never ever ever ever use anything but one of those pods.
Less is more people.
But please, BlogTO, enough with the word 'solution.' It doesn't mean anything in this context. You're just using it as a buzzword.
BTW if you're willing to go even farther than the 905 area, the price drops even more. I moved stuff from an estate located in Brantford into storage while I moved away for a contract. Rates well under $100 for a 5x5. Just pile'er up high and still easy enough to move to T.O. with a one-way truck rental.
My best experiences have been with Public Storage. The $1 special at move in really helped convince me to go back.
On my last visit they gave me a gas card because I prepaid my rent which helped right before having to drive to the inlaws in north of Huntsville for the holidays!
Now i'm moving to oakville and i had looked into a couple of the storages there. yes i know, i'm moving to the burbs! PS just opened a place there, and since i moved before the cut off date, they refunded my rent for half the month, and reserved me a spaced at the new place. i was surprised when i got there that the old soccer domes i used to play in are now a storage!
oh, and they gave me $100 gas card for prepaying my rent.
I also had a good experience with All Canadian over on Laird street, but it was too far from where i was living.
let's just hope they don't sell my stuff as i can't start a junk collection all over again!!!
For example, I was checking out some of these locations on google maps and I came across an astounding number of reviews for All Canadian: 51 google reviews. The other contenders above had at most a handful of reviews.
Now, check out the 51 reviews for All Canadian and you discover that these reviews came in a highly suspicious pattern of commonly worded praise and rapid fire succession, one day after the next over a concentrated stretch of days. And, surprise, surprise, all these exuberant reviewer for All Canadian, when you check them out, have a single review to their name.
Quite the coincidental that these 51 reviewers, all writing similar positive reviews over one stretch of time, were so motivated by their life-changing experience of a self-storage company that they could not resist the burning urge to review All Canadian on google, yet they had no interest in reviewing any other business in Toronto or elsewhere. Wow!
And now the are even involved in social networks, forums.
Among main of them we can see Godaddy, PayPal.
So - why not storage buildings
Cheers,
Storwell
The worst part is that they refuse to tell me when my bill is due. Every month I get an email, on a different day (always, yes, in the last week of the month or in the first week of the following month), with a document dated the day before it was sent saying the account is due (so, on the 29th, at 6am, I got an email saying my account had been due on the 28th -- fortunately, I had the stomach flu and was awake). I paid it right away. Later that day I got an email saying I owed a $10 late fee on top of the bill. In the 24 hours since, I've had 3 emails, one a notice that access to my locker has been suspended.
Then, even if I've contacted them and told them I've paid through my bank, I get phone calls and emails (with subject headings like "payment??????") several times a day, every day, (and calls at 6am, although, yes, I do have an out of province number) until they've received and filed the payment. This is all for 1-3 days overdue.
Finally, after months of complaining and asking for a due date in advance, I was told, just last month, that the bill is due every 29 days.
Again. I've asked repeatedly for billing in advance. Usually I prepay 2-3 months at a time to avoid the problem.
But, yeah. Go for cheaper. I could have bought all new stuff about 3 times now for the close to $8000 bucks I've spent on this place.
It's a great location. But I wouldn't recommend it.
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