Self Storage in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland

The self storage industry in the German-speaking part of Europe - often referred to as the DACH region (an abbreviation of Deutschland, Austria, and Confoederatio Helvetica for Switzerland) - has grown rapidly over the past decade. While the three countries share cultural and economic ties, their storage markets show very different dynamics in terms of size, pricing, and structure.

On scale, Germany is the heavyweight, with 375 providers and nearly 1,200 facilities. Austria follows with 177 providers and more than 400 facilities, while Switzerland is home to 67 providers and more than 251 facilities. Prices tell another story: Switzerland is by far the most expensive, with an average monthly rent of CHF 270 per unit, while Germany and Austria sit at more accessible levels of €226 and €172 per unit respectively.

But comparing pure monthly rents is misleading. Units differ in average size: German facilities average 13 m², Swiss facilities around 10.5 m², and Austrian units just 9.5 m². That’s why price per m² is the fairest comparison across markets. By this measure, Switzerland leads with CHF 25.5/m², while Germany and Austria are at €17.4/m² and €18.0/m².

Self Storage in Germany

With its large economy, dense cities, and growing urban rental culture, Germany dominates the DACH self storage market.

• Berlin is the country’s hub: 21 providers, 83 facilities, and an average monthly price of €221. Units average 7.8 m², equating to roughly €29/m². Leading names include MyPlace, Storebox, and Shurgard.

• Munich is Germany’s most expensive city, averaging €353 per month for 11 m² units - about €32/m². The city is shaped by MyPlace, Storebox, and ATU Self Storage.

• Hamburg sits in between: 14 providers, 28 facilities, and an average rent of €232 per unit. Operators like Selbern Lagern compete alongside large national self storage providers like MyPlace.

Germany also has a strong rural and suburban segment, with garage-style storage popular outside major cities. There is also a growing offering of Pick-up and Delivery Storage, with SaveSpace and Boxie24 being the largest providers offering this service.

Self Storage in Switzerland

Switzerland’s market is smaller but much pricier. Limited urban land and high demand drive up rates, especially in Zurich.

• Zurich is the most expensive city in Switzerland when looking at prices per square meter. With 10 providers, 30 facilities and an average monthly rent of CHF 286, the relatively small average unit size of just 7.4 m² translates into about CHF 39/m² – the highest rate in the entire region. MyBox, MyPlace, and SQFT dominate the city.

• Geneva on the other hand, tops the ranking in absolute rents: the average monthly price is CHF 415. However, units are much larger, averaging almost 15 m², which means the price per square meter is lower than in Zurich, Bern, and Basel. This is mainly because most facilities are located on the outskirts of the city - there is virtually no inner-city self storage space in Geneva.

• Bern and Basel average around CHF 258–274 per unit, with leading local brands like PlaceB and Zebrabox.

Overall, Switzerland exemplifies a premium storage market: fewer facilities, smaller units, and much higher rates per square meter.

Self Storage in Austria

Austria’s self storage market is heavily concentrated in Vienna but is steadily expanding into regional cities.

• Vienna alone hosts 165 facilities, dominated by Storebox, MyPlace, but with also many local players such as RentABox24, LocalStorage and StoreRoom. Average rents are €200 per month. This gives you an average unit of 5.9 m² units, or nearly €34/m².

• Salzburg is much cheaper, with an average of €82 per unit for 9.4 m², translating to less than €9/m². Lagerboxen.at leads here.

• Innsbruck sits in between on an average rent basis, averaging €170 per month for 4.9 m² - a steep €34/m². Operators like Greenbox Innsbruck and Lagerraum365 shape this alpine market.

Beyond Vienna, garage-style units are still common in suburban and rural areas, but the growth of branded facilities in Salzburg, Innsbruck, and other regional hubs shows how demand is diversifying. The largest garagebox provider in Austria is GaragenCity.

Conclusion

Within the DACH region, Germany is by far the largest market. That makes sense: more people, bigger cities, and a larger economy. Yet Switzerland and Austria are catching up in their own ways - Switzerland through premium pricing and urban density, Austria through rapid expansion outside Vienna.

What’s clear across all three countries is that self storage is no longer a niche. Whether you’re in Berlin, Zurich, or Salzburg, the market is expanding quickly, reflecting the region’s changing lifestyles and real estate pressures.