National Portable Storage Association

Uses

Off-site portable storage centers

A portable storage center is a secure facility where a provider keeps your loaded container. The container is delivered to you, you fill it, and the provider takes it back to store. Later it is delivered where you choose. Most companies let you reach it while it is there.

Quick facts from NPSA members
Storage location
Provider's storage center
Loading
At your own pace, or with local professionals
Delivery
To your destination of choice
Access while stored
Provided by most companies, if required

When does off-site portable storage make sense?

The flexibility with portable storage and moving solutions allows for property to be stored on-site or off-site in storage centers. Portable storage and moving companies offer off-site storage solutions, for example, to help clients deal with a variety of challenges. Whether you are staging your home for re-sale, building a new house, have mismatched closing dates, or you just need extra storage space, a portable storage container placed in an off-site storage center can be the right solution.

How does it work?

A container is delivered to your property, and you load the container at your own pace. When you’re finished, your portable storage and moving company will pick-up the container and bring it back to their facility. Off-site storage center storage doesn’t mean that you have to do things yourself, however. Whether the container remains at residence or is returned to a storage center, many portable storage providers offer the flexibility to hire local professionals to help you with the loading and unloading of your container, if you don’t want to do it yourself.

Can I get my container back, or get into it?

Once you are ready for your container, your storage container provider will deliver the container to your destination of choice where you can unload the container at your own pace. Most companies also provide you with access to your container while in their storage center, if required.

How to get a quote

NPSA is a trade association. Its member companies rent and sell these containers and run storage centers. Send a quote request and it goes to member companies near you, or search the member directory yourself. If you would rather keep the container at home, see on-site portable storage. A container yard is a related term.

Questions

Storage centers: common questions

What is a portable storage center?

It is the facility where a portable storage and moving company keeps your container. The company delivers a container to your property, you load it, and it brings the container back to the facility. When you are ready, it delivers the container to your chosen destination.

When should I store my container off site?

There are four common reasons: staging your home for re-sale, building a new house, mismatched closing dates, or simply needing extra storage space. Off-site storage makes sense when you cannot keep a container on your property.

Can I get into my container while it is stored?

Most companies provide access to your container while it is in their storage center, if required. Policies differ between companies, so ask about visit hours, advance notice, and any access fees before you commit to a storage term.

Do I have to load and unload it myself?

No. Whether the container stays at your residence or goes to a storage center, many providers offer the flexibility to hire local professionals to help you load and unload. Ask what labor options your local member offers.

How long can I keep a container in a storage center?

That depends on the member company and your agreement. The container stays until you are ready for it. Ask about minimum terms, monthly rates, and what happens at the end of the term.

Need storage?

Get quotes from NPSA member companies

Tell us what you need and where. A member company that serves your area will contact you.

For the industry

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