Kennards vs National Storage vs Storage King: The Complete 2026 Comparison

National Storage offers the most competitive base pricing across Australia. Their medium units (5–10 m²) average $220–$280/month, making them 15–20% cheaper than Kennards on average. National Storage achieves this through economies of scale (180+ locations) and aggressive promotional pricing — first-month discounts of 50% or more are common.

Storage King sits in the middle at $240–$320/month for equivalent units. They're not the cheapest, but they're rarely the most expensive either. Storage King's value proposition is consistency — you know what you're getting, even if it's not the lowest price.

Kennards commands a premium at $260–$380/month for medium units. The higher price reflects their investment in facility quality, technology, and customer service. Kennards facilities tend to be newer, better maintained, and offer more amenities than budget competitors. Whether the premium is worth it depends on your priorities — if you value 24/7 app-based access and modern facilities, Kennards justifies the cost. If you just need secure space for boxes, you're paying for features you won't use.

Hidden Costs to Watch

• Admin fees: All three charge $20–$50 at sign-up. Ask to have this waived — it works 40–60% of the time.
• Mandatory insurance: If you don't provide your own policy, you'll pay $12–$40/month for in-house coverage. Check your home contents policy first.
• Lock fees: Expect to pay $15–$40 for a facility-approved padlock unless you bring your own.
• Late fees: $15–$30 per late payment. Set up direct debit to avoid this entirely.

National Storage dominates with 180+ locations across all mainland states and territories. They have the deepest coverage in regional areas — if you're outside a major city, National Storage is likely your only option among the big three. Their strength is convenience: there's probably a National Storage within 10 km of where you live or work.

Kennards operates 100+ facilities, heavily concentrated in NSW and Victoria. They have minimal presence in Western Australia and South Australia. If you're in Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, you'll find multiple Kennards locations. In Perth or Adelaide, you may have only 2–3 options.

Storage King has the smallest network at 60+ locations, focused on NSW, Queensland, and Victoria. They're effectively absent from South Australia and Western Australia. Storage King works well if you're on the east coast, but don't expect coverage in regional areas or smaller cities.

Geographic Strengths

All three providers offer the standard range of unit sizes: lockers (< 2 m²), small (2–5 m²), medium (5–10 m²), large (10–20 m²), extra-large (20–36 m²), and vehicle storage. The differences emerge in specialised options:

National Storage offers the most variety: climate-controlled units (standard at new facilities), wine storage, document storage, and dedicated business centres with meeting rooms and office facilities. If you need anything beyond standard residential storage, National Storage is the safest bet.

Kennards has climate control at most facilities and offers vehicle storage (cars, boats, caravans) at select locations. Their specialty is high-quality residential storage — they don't chase niche markets like wine or documents.

Storage King offers the basics well: standard units, some climate-controlled options, and vehicle storage at larger facilities. Don't expect specialised services — they focus on volume residential storage rather than niche markets.

All three providers meet industry standards for security: CCTV monitoring, electronic gate access, individual unit alarms, and on-site managers during business hours. The differences are in implementation and technology:

Kennards leads in technology. Their mobile app allows you to unlock gates, open unit doors (at smart facilities), view access logs, and manage payments — all from your phone. Approximately 40% of Kennards facilities are fully "smart" with app-based access. The remaining 60% use traditional keypad entry.

National Storage has a functional mobile app for payments and access logs, but physical access still requires keypads or proximity cards. They've invested in back-end systems — online booking, automated billing, and digital contract signing — but the facility-level tech is conventional.

Storage King uses established security methods: keypad entry, physical locks, and on-site staff. Their facilities meet industry security standards. App-based access is not currently available, so access code issues are handled during business hours.

Security Features Comparison

• CCTV: All three providers — 24/7 recording at all facilities
• Unit alarms: All three providers — individual alarms on every unit
• Gate access: Keypad (all), proximity cards (Kennards, National), mobile app (Kennards only)
• On-site staff: All three — typically 8 AM–5 PM weekdays, limited weekend hours
• After-hours patrols: Varies by location, not guaranteed by any provider

Access hours vary more by individual facility than by provider brand. That said, general patterns emerge:

National Storage has the highest proportion of 24/7 facilities (60–70%). Their larger sites, especially in industrial areas, typically offer round-the-clock access. Smaller residential-area facilities often close at 9 PM or 10 PM.

Kennards offers 24/7 access at 50–60% of locations. Their smart facilities (app-based entry) are more likely to have extended hours than traditional keypad sites.

Storage King has the most limited access, with only 40–50% of facilities offering 24/7 entry. Standard hours are 6 AM–10 PM at most locations, with some closing as early as 8 PM.

Customer service quality depends heavily on individual facility managers rather than corporate policy. However, aggregate review data reveals patterns:

Kennards tends to rate well on Google Reviews, with customers frequently praising facility cleanliness, modern amenities, and helpful staff. Common complaints focus on premium pricing and occasional billing issues.

National Storage generally receives positive reviews, with customers highlighting convenience (many locations) and competitive pricing. Some reviewers note inconsistent facility quality between newer and older sites, and variable staff helpfulness across locations.

Storage King receives generally positive reviews, with customers citing straightforward service and fair pricing. Some reviewers mention limited access hours at certain facilities and longer wait times for maintenance requests.

Review observations are based on publicly available Google Reviews as of early 2026. Individual facility experiences vary significantly. We recommend checking reviews for your specific location before committing.

National Storage is the clear winner for business customers. They operate dedicated business centres at 20+ locations, offering:

• Meeting rooms and office facilities (hourly rental)
• Package acceptance and holding
• Document storage with retrieval services
• Flexible terms for commercial tenants (month-to-month with volume discounts)
• Business-grade WiFi in common areas

Kennards offers basic business storage (standard units with 24/7 access) but lacks dedicated business services. They work well for tradespeople who need secure equipment storage but don't need office facilities.

Storage King is similar to Kennards — functional business storage without specialised services. They offer month-to-month contracts and accept business deliveries, but don't expect meeting rooms or document management.

All three providers require contents insurance. This is industry-standard and non-negotiable. Your options:

Option 1: Bring Your Own Insurance

Check your existing home and contents policy. Many Australian policies cover goods in storage, especially if the storage facility is within a certain distance of your home. If covered, provide a Certificate of Currency to the storage provider and opt out of their in-house plan.

Option 2: Provider In-House Plans

• National Storage: $12–$30/month (basic to comprehensive coverage)
• Kennards: $15–$35/month (tiered coverage options)
• Storage King: $18–$40/month (most expensive, limited options)