Attending UC or Going Out of State? Self-Storage in Cincinnati for College Students Can Help

Are you a Bearcat attending UC next semester? Heading to NKU? How about Xavier or Mount St. Joseph? Or, perhaps you’re heading out of state to attend university far from home (and farther away from Mom and Dad).

Whatever your situation, our self-storage in Cincinnati can help if you’re attending college. Keep reading our guide to learn more.

Why College Students Need Self-Storage in Cincinnati Moving To or From Cincinnati

Did you bring too much stuff from home to the dorm or apartment? We can help with that. Our self-storage units provide a convenient solution without having to take all of your stuff back home. You can get your items when you need them while keeping your side of the room clean and tidy.

If you brought clothes for summer and winter but don’t have enough room in your dorm or apartment, our storage units can help with bulky winter coats, bicycles, and more.

If you’re heading home for summer break or you’ve earned your way into a prestigious study-abroad program, put your items in storage for a few months while you’re away. In between semesters, a storage unit can come in handy if you don’t want to move all of your stuff back home. It might be cheaper than renting a moving truck or hiring a moving company to transport your items all the way back home.

Storage facilities with climate control can help keep your electronics, gaming consoles, and cozy chairs that won’t fit in the dorm safe and secure until you need them.

Items to Store

College students have unique storage needs from semester to semester, particularly when they are away from their permanent residence back home. These are some of the most popular items college students store with us:

Furniture

Items like desks, chairs, beds, or futons may not fit into dorms or small apartments, especially during breaks. Students store these pieces to get them out later in a pinch.

Clothing

Seasonal clothing, such as winter coats, boots, or summer wear, occupies a significant amount of space. Students store these items to rotate them based on the season, and we get all four seasons here in Cincinnati.

Sports Equipment

Bulky items like bikes, skis, snowboards, or gym equipment may not fit in dorms or shared spaces, making storage a practical solution.

Electronics

Laptops, gaming systems, monitors, or audio equipment require secure storage, especially if you leave for an extended period of time.

Decor and Personal Items

Rugs, lamps, posters, or sentimental belongings often go into storage when students move between dorms or apartments. Kitchen Supplies Mini-fridges, microwaves, and cooking utensils take up space but remain essential for students living off-campus.

Hobby Supplies

Art supplies, musical instruments, or crafting materials get stored when not in use if you need more space or don’t want them to get damaged.

Short-Term vs. Long-Term Storage

Do you need short-term or long-term storage in Cincinnati? Short-term storage often appeals to students who require temporary solutions during summer breaks or brief absences from campus. Our eight storage locations provide flexibility, enabling you to store belongings close by without committing to extended rental periods. You can minimize costs while securing a practical solution for your immediate storage needs.

Long-term storage caters to students with prolonged off-campus commitments, such as studying abroad or taking a gap year. Our units accommodate belongings over an extended period, ensuring safety and accessibility when students return. Long-term options also suit those who live far from campus and prefer not to transport large items home repeatedly. We highly recommend climate-controlled storage if you need to keep your items secure for longer periods of time.

Short-term storage works particularly well for smaller collections of items or for students who frequently relocate. For example, seasonal clothing, textbooks, or bicycles fit conveniently in compact storage spaces. You can keep things organized without overcrowding your temporary living arrangements. We offer month-to-month arrangements to simplify your short-term storage in Cincinnati.

On the other hand, long-term storage often proves essential for larger and bulkier items. Furniture, electronics, and sentimental items require a secure environment that protects them for longer periods of time. Again, climate-controlled storage in Cincinnati helps mitigate the effects of wide swings of weather conditions from season to season.

Choosing the Right Size Storage Unit in Cincinnati

We have a wide range of storage unit sizes to meet your needs. Our smallest is the size of a large closet, and our largest can fit a car inside of it. So, whatever size you need, we can accommodate your belongings.

Look over our sizing guide to help you decide which self-storage unit in Cincinnati fits your belongings best. Consider having one with enough space to create rows and aisles if you have many belongings.

Common storage unit sizes are as follows:

5x5 feet- This size resembles a large closet and is ideal for storing a few boxes, small furniture, or seasonal items.

5x10 feet- This size can comfortably accommodate items from a small apartment, including a queen-sized bed, a dresser, and several boxes.

10x10 feet- This size unit is akin to a medium-sized bedroom, offering ample space for the contents of a one-bedroom apartment.

10x15 feet- A unit this size can hold belongings from a two-bedroom apartment, including larger furniture and appliances.

10x20 feet- This larger unit is great for those with more substantial needs, such as storing the contents of a three to four-bedroom house. It provides significant space for furniture, appliances, boxes, and even vehicles.

10x30 feet- For the most extensive storage needs, units measuring this size and beyond are available, offering enough room for virtually anything you need to store.

Packing Tips

Organizing your self-storage unit in Cincinnati helps you have an easier time accessing your belongings when you need them.

Pack smaller items in boxes or tubs. Label them properly, and fill them as much as you can. Filling boxes to the edges can help them maintain their shape in storage. Consider a high-tech solution with an app on your phone that saves photos of each box or tub. Consider a label on the tubs rather than marking them with a Sharpie to keep them cleaner.

Stack boxes and tubs in layers, with the heaviest ones on the bottom, to make rows. Try not to stack things higher than 6 or 7 feet high so you can reach them. Consider temporary shelving to help stack things if you don’t have enough heavy items.

For bulky items, put them in the back first and work forward unless the bulky items are just for temporary storage, and you need to get to them readily. Putting large items down first makes it easier to work around with smaller objects.

Line the walls first, starting with the back and then the sides. Leave aisles about 3 feet wide if you have a large storage unit in Cincinnati for easier organization. Consider having rows and aisles for a storage unit 5x10 or larger.

Cost and Budget Considerations

Once you choose the right size storage unit, you’ll have an affordable option for as long as you need. However, if you obtain more stuff during your college years and you run out of space in your current unit, our prices stay reasonable if you need to upgrade to a larger one.

For example, a 5x10 climate-controlled unit at Blue Ash North might rent for $89 a month. Meanwhile, a 10x10 unit could be $139 a month. If you need to double the space you need, you won’t pay double the pricing. For two 5x10 units, it would be $178. So, you would save $39 a month. Your individual results may vary.

Paring Down Your Items

One thing to consider is to pare down your items. Consider donating or selling the items you no longer need while keeping only the essentials. Do you have outfits you no longer wear or toys you no longer play with? What about older gaming consoles?

Selling or donating items can save you money in the long run, depending on the size of the storage unit you need for your items.

If there are items you no longer want but can’t donate or sell, you can throw them away. Remember, chances are good you’ll be buying more stuff as you move through college and graduate. So keep that in mind.

Contact Us for Self-Storage in Cincinnati

With eight locations and decades of serving the area, Circle Storage can meet your needs for secure self-storage in Cincinnati. We have three new state-of-the-art facilities with climate-controlled storage: one in West Chester, one in Springdale, and another in Blue Ash.

Circle Storage is one of the largest locally owned storage companies in the area. Everyone on staff is based here in Greater Cincinnati, so when you have questions about your unit, you’ll talk to someone based in this area.