What hidden fees do storage companies charge?

Australian storage companies commonly charge admin fees ($20–$80 one-off), mandatory insurance ($15–$30/month), lock purchase fees ($15–$25), and apply regular price increases of 10–40% every 6–12 months. National Storage charges $80 admin plus $25/month mandatory insurance — before you store a single box.

How much do storage prices increase over time?

Storage prices in Australia typically increase 10–25% every 6–12 months. ProductReview data shows National Storage customers report 26–58% increases within the first year. The industry average is around 12% every 6 months. This is known as ECRI (Existing Customer Rate Increase).

Which Australian storage provider has the lowest fees?

Roomia charges no admin fee, no mandatory insurance, and includes a digital lock — making it the lowest-fee option. Kennards Self Storage also charges no admin fee and doesn't require insurance. Both are significantly cheaper than National Storage over a 12-month period when all fees are included.

Consumer Exposé Tool

True Cost of Storage Calculator

The fees storage companies hope you won't add up. Enter your quoted rate, select your provider — see the real 12-month cost.

Updated 2 April 2026

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Enter your quoted monthly rate above to see the true 12-month cost including all hidden fees and price increases.

Why does the true cost differ so much?

Admin & Setup Fees

One-off fees charged on sign-up, ranging from $0 (Kennards, Roomia) to $80 (National Storage). Often buried in T&Cs and not shown in online price comparisons.

Mandatory Insurance

National Storage and Storage King require insurance from day one — $20–$25/month whether you want it or not. Kennards and Roomia make it optional.

Price Escalation (ECRI)

Existing Customer Rate Increases hit every 6–12 months. National Storage customers on ProductReview report 26–58% increases in year one. The calculator uses conservative industry-average figures.

Fee data sourced from ProductReview.com.au consumer reviews, Whirlpool community forums, and provider terms & conditions as of March 2026. Price increase projections use conservative industry averages. Actual costs may vary. StoragePrices is an independent comparison tool — we are not affiliated with any storage provider.

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