Frequently Asked Questions

We offer a wide range of unit sizes to fit just about any need. Our climate-controlled indoor units start at 5×4 and go up to 10×20, with our most popular sizes being 5×5, 5×10, and 10×10. Our exterior drive-up units range from 8×10 all the way up to 40×20 at our downtown location. Not sure what you need? Call us — a real person will help you figure it out.

A good rule of thumb: a 5×5 works well for boxes, small furniture, and seasonal items. A 5×10 handles the contents of a small bedroom or large closet. A 10×10 fits a one-bedroom apartment comfortably. Larger units accommodate multi-bedroom homes, oversized gear, or business inventory. When in doubt, it’s usually better to go a little bigger — and our staff is happy to walk you through it before you commit to anything.

For the safety of your belongings and everyone else’s, we don’t allow hazardous materials, flammable or explosive substances, perishable food, live plants or animals, or anything illegal.Units are also never allowed to be used for habitation purposes. This is not a comprehensive list— for a list of items prohibited by our rental agreement, or if you’re unsure whether something is okay to store, just ask us.

Yes. All of our indoor units are climate-controlled and maintained between 60 and 80 degrees year-round. Our HVAC systems are professionally serviced multiple times a year — not just for temperature regulation, but also for dust and allergen management. If you’re storing furniture, electronics, documents, clothing, instruments, artwork, or anything else sensitive to heat or humidity, a climate-controlled unit is worth it.

Our indoor climate-controlled units are located inside secured hallways protected by digital keypads, kept at a consistent temperature year-round, and ideal for items that need protection from the elements. Our exterior units are drive-up accessible, ground-level, and great for hardier items — equipment, vehicles, tools, or anything you need to access quickly and frequently. Both options offer the same commitment to security and cleanliness.

Only our Fairview location offers open exterior vehicle, RV, or boat parking, but our larger garage-style units are appropriate for most standard vehicles and smaller watercraft. Give us a call with your dimensions and we can tell you right away whether we have a unit that works.

Our gate is open starting at 6:00 am, seven days a week, 365 days a year — including holidays. If your situation requires access outside those hours, just ask. We can grant 24-hour access on a case-by-case basis, and we’d rather have that conversation with you directly than hand it out automatically to everyone.

All of our exterior units are drive-up accessible at ground level — pull up, unload, done. Our climate-controlled units are indoor, but you can drive right up to the building’s exterior entrance. From there, your hallway is steps away.

You have options. You can reserve a unit online at www.idahoselfstorage.com, call us, email us, or come in person — whatever works best for you. Our offices are staffed by real people six days a week. We’re also happy to handle rentals entirely by phone or email for out-of-state customers, which is common for parents setting up storage for their students either at Boise State University, or any of our other incredible Treasure Valley educational institutions.

One strong recommendation: if you’re using a moving company, please call ahead to reserve your unit and get as much of the paperwork done in advance as possible. Moving day is already a lot — having your unit ready and your rental squared away before the truck shows up makes everything significantly smoother for everyone involved (and typically saves you from extra charges incurred from your moving company).

You can reserve your unit online, and we can complete rentals by phone or email for customers who aren’t local — we work with out-of-state families regularly. Final move-in is confirmed with our office staff, who will make sure everything is ready for you when you arrive.

In most cases, yes. If you’re ready, we’re ready. However, our office is closed Sundays and we always recommend calling ahead so we can make sure the right size is available and have everything set before you arrive.

To move into your storage unit, all you need is a valid government-issued photo ID, a cylinder lock, and your first month’s payment. That’s it. No surprise fees, no deposit, no administrative charge waiting for you at the desk.

Yes. Carts and dollies are available in the hallways, and if there isn’t one in your hallway, all our self storage tenants are encouraged to stop by the office and we’ll get you one. We want moving in to be as easy as possible.

Yes, with your authorization. Anyone you directly provide your key and code to can access your storage unit at will, as discussed between you and your guest. For guests you have not provided with your access tools, you’ll need to add them as an approved contact — just let us know at the office and we’ll get it sorted. Keep in mind, tenants are responsible for the conduct of their guests while inside the facility, whether or not you accompany them. Consider this before sharing your access tools.

For non-emergencies, give us a call or send a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as our office hours resume. For urgent situations involving your unit or the facility, contact information for after-hours support is posted at the property. For true emergencies which might compromise your health or safety, calling your local police dispatch, or 911 is always your safest choice.

.Always yes. No long-term contracts or notice to vacate required. However, notifying us before moving out is highly recommended. It allows us to turn off autopay, confirm move-out expectations, and prorate your final bill if you’re leaving mid-month, avoiding charges we can’t partially refund after billing. Review the posted move-out tips in your hallway before your final visit.

No minimum, no maximum. Month-to-month means exactly that.

Pricing varies by unit size and seasonal demand. We believe in transparent pricing — what you’re quoted is what you pay. No administrative fees, no mandatory insurance charges, no junk fees tacked on at checkout. Once you rent or reserve, the quoted rate is yours for a full year. Call or stop in and we’ll give you a straight answer, or visit our “Rentals Available” tab on this page.

Yes, rates reflect the specific facility and local market, however, the rates on this page are for the specific location you have selected from the drop-down at the top of the page. To verify the rates you are seeing are for the location of your choice, double check your selection using the same drop-down menu. Contact us directly for current pricing at any of our Idaho Self Storage Locations.

We run specials as often as we can, and they vary by season and availability — so rather than post something here that might be out of date, we’d rather you just call and ask. One of our staff members will tell you exactly what’s available right now.

No deposit. No administrative fee. No hidden charges of any kind. You pay for your unit and a lock. That’s it. We even offer a five day grace period on all monthly payments before any late fees are assessed.

We raise rates exactly once per year. That increase is calculated by your actual site manager — someone who knows the facility, knows the market, and knows you. We don’t use automated rate-hike algorithms. You’ll always be notified in advance, and you’ll never open a bill to find a surprise.

We accept cash, check, money order, and credit or debit card. ACH bank transfers are not available at this time.

Yes, and we encourage it. Autopay means you never have to think about it, and you’ll never risk a late payment. Ask us at the office or over the phone and we’ll get it set up for you or visit our tenant portal to complete autopay on your own.

While we do not do initial rentals online, payments for existing tenants can be made through our tenant portal. Just take a look at the top right of our home page, and you’ll find a button inviting you to pay your bill. Once on that screen, you may log in using your portal credentials or use your unit number and email address to create an account. Have questions? Give us a call or stop by and we can walk you through your payment options. Our team is available six days a week.

We’ll reach out to you directly — and we mean that. We’re not interested in piling on fees or jumping straight to enforcement. Our first move is always a conversation, because we’d rather work something out with you than not. If you’re behind and don’t have a solution yet, call us anyway. Answering our calls and keeping that line of communication open is genuinely the most important thing you can do, because we often have options that tenants don’t know about.

We understand that pop culture has made storage unit non-payment feel scarier than it usually is — Storage Wars does not reflect how this actually works. Idaho law governs the lien process, and it includes required notice periods, specific timelines, and tenant protections that exist precisely to prevent anyone from losing their belongings overnight. We have nothing to hide about how that process works, and we’d rather you read it yourself than wonder.

Idaho Lien Law — Idaho Code § 55-2306
As always, our staff is happy to walk you through any of it. Your stuff is safe, and our goal is to keep it that way.

Very. The facility features fortress-style construction, with a multitude of security cameras providing 24-hour video surveillance enhanced with motion detection activation to cue the system to record, and digital keypad access on most every hallway. Our climate-controlled hallways are individually isolated — meaning your access code only works in the hallway where your unit is located. This means tenants of other hallways can accidentally wander into your hallway. That’s by design. In addition to the rest of our security features, we have a in-person security company that patrols our facility multiple nights per week to ensure security for all our tenants.

Yes to both. We have more than 40 cameras covering the property, and access to the climate-controlled hallways is controlled by individual digital keypads.

Our units require cylinder locks, which are more secure than standard padlocks — they’re pick-resistant, cut-resistant, and significantly harder to defeat than the locks most people bring from home. Cylinder locks are available for purchase in our office or can be purchased online. Typical padlocks will not work on our units.

Padlocks — even heavy-duty ones — are vulnerable to bolt cutters and picking. Cylinder locks eliminate that vulnerability. The lock sits flush inside the door hasp, which means there’s nothing exposed to cut. It’s a meaningfully higher level of security, and it’s one of the reasons we sleep well at night knowing what’s in our facility.

Only you — and anyone you’ve explicitly authorized. Your access code works only in the specific hallway where your unit is located. No one from another hallway can access yours. And crucially: there are no master keys to tenant locks on our property. None. Not even for us.

Come see us at the office. We’ll verify your identity and help you get sorted. For access codes, we can reset it on the spot. For lost cylinder lock keys, we can assist with lock replacement.

Yes. The facility is well-lit throughout, inside and out with timed exterior lights circling every building on our property set to come on well before dark.

Yes. A licensed professional pest control company services the property monthly to protect against rodents and insects. Our climate-controlled units maintain consistent temperature and airflow year-round, which also helps manage humidity — protecting your belongings from the kind of slow damage that heat, cold, and moisture cause over time.

Use sturdy, uniform-sized boxes where possible so they stack safely. Label everything on the sides, not just the top. Put heavier items on the bottom, lighter and more fragile items on top. Leave a small aisle so you can actually reach things in the back without unpacking the whole unit. For longer-term storage, consider putting a pallet or shelving under your boxes to keep them off the floor.

For furniture, use moving blankets or furniture pads — plastic wrap can trap moisture. Disassemble what you can. For electronics, original packaging is ideal; otherwise use anti-static bubble wrap and avoid cardboard directly against screens. In all cases, a climate-controlled unit is your best protection against heat, cold, and humidity damage over time.

Just let us know. Our leases are true month to month and do not require 30 days notice. If possible, letting us know before your last billing date helps us to turn off your autopay, and even prorate your last month’s rent. Stop by the office or give us a call, let us know your move-out date, and when the time comes, remove your belongings, and remove your lock. We’ll do a final walkthrough and close out your account. Simple.Each of our hallways, as well as our office, display a poster with tips for your most successful move out. You can even contact our office and we can email you a copy!

Our leases are true month to month and do not require 30 days notice. If possible, letting us know before your last billing date helps us to turn off your autopay, and even prorate your last month’s rent. Stop by the office or give us a call, let us know your move-out date, and when the time comes, remove your belongings, and remove your lock. We’ll do a final walkthrough and close out your account. Remember, while we can prorate your last month, we cannot refund partial months’ rent after they have already been charged. While giving lengthy notice is not required, communicating your plans with our office allows us to save you the most money and have the smoothest move-out experience possible.

We strongly recommend it. Your homeowner’s or renter’s insurance policy may not cover items in storage — check with your provider. If not, we offer tenant insurance options through the facility. It is not mandatory, but you are already investing in the safety and security of your belongings, and we strongly recommend protecting that investment with insurance. We have policies starting at as little as $5.00 a month for our most basic policy, with others ranging up to $75,000 worth of coverage.

Yes. . We offer policies starting at $5.00 a month for basic coverage, ranging up to $75,000 in protection. It’s not mandatory, but you’re already investing in keeping your belongings safe and secure — insurance is how you protect that investment if the unexpected happens. Ask us at the office for more details about the best way to protect your items.

Our office is staffed by real people six days a week. We don’t use kiosks, we don’t outsource to call centers, and we don’t make you navigate a phone tree to get a straight answer. If you have a question, a person who actually works here will answer it.

Call us directly at your preferred Idaho Self Storage location, find us at www.idahoselfstorage.com or send an email. We’re in the office six days a week and happy to talk.

Our gate is open every single day of the year — 365 days — starting at 6:00 am. Our office is open Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, and Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you need access outside of gate hours, 24-hour access is available upon request.

We’d love to hear from you. Google reviews are the most helpful for us — they help other people in Boise find a storage facility that actually treats them like a human being. If something went wrong, please tell us directly first. We’d rather fix it than read about it.

Please call us directly at 208-333-9597 to ask about current language support options. We’re always happy to find a way to help.

The short version: we’re locally owned, locally operated, and we actually know our tenants. National chains run on algorithms — automated rate hikes, kiosk check-ins, call centers. We run on relationships. Your rate is set by a manager who knows this market. Your questions are answered by someone who works here. And when something goes wrong — which is rare, but happens — you’re talking to a person, not a ticket system.

It’s one of the smartest moves you can make. Boise’s housing market has pushed a lot of people into smaller footprints — apartments, older homes, condos — without necessarily reducing the size of their lives. A storage unit lets you keep what matters without cramming it all into a space that wasn’t designed for it. Your mountain bikes, your grandmother’s furniture, your side hustle inventory — it all has a place.

Ask yourself what you’re storing and how long you’re storing it. If it’s furniture, electronics, documents, clothing, instruments, photos, or anything else that can warp, crack, corrode, or degrade with temperature swings — climate control is worth it. If it’s hardy outdoor gear, landscaping equipment, or things that already live outside, a drive-up exterior unit works great and costs less.

A cylinder lock is a high-security lock specifically designed for storage units. Unlike a padlock, it sits recessed inside the door hasp with no exposed shackle — meaning bolt cutters can’t get purchase on it. They’re also significantly more resistant to picking and drilling. We require cylinder locks on all units because we take security seriously, and padlocks — even expensive ones — have well-documented vulnerabilities. Cylinder locks are available for purchase in our office.

Many small business owners use storage units for inventory, equipment, and overflow. It’s a cost-effective alternative to commercial space, especially for e-commerce sellers, contractors, caterers, or anyone whose business generates more stuff than their home or office can hold. However, there are limitations surrounding what kinds of operations can actually take place in the unit. To discuss your specific situation, talk to us about your needs and we can find the right fit.

We raise rates exactly once per year — no more. That increase is set by your site manager based on actual market conditions, not an automated algorithm trying to maximize revenue. You’ll always be notified in advance. No surprise mid-lease increases, ever.

Yes, with the right unit and the right prep. Climate-controlled storage is ideal for long-term because it protects against the slow damage done by heat, humidity, and cold over months and years. Pack carefully, use good boxes, protect furniture with blankets rather than plastic, and your belongings will come out the other side in good shape.

Often the same day. Call us in the morning and you could be moved in by lunch. Availability varies by size and season, so the sooner you reach out the better — but we’ll always do what we can to accommodate you quickly.

Idaho law governs what happens when a tenant falls behind on rent. After a grace period and required notices, the contents of the unit may be sold at lien auction. We never want it to come to that — we’ll always try to reach you first and work something out. We encourage tenants to understand their rights to make these situations less overwhelming. Idaho’s lien laws can be found here, but if you have specific questions about our facility’s policies, it’s best to speak with our office. If you’re having trouble making a payment, please call us before it becomes a bigger problem.

We offer 5% off for all military, seniors, and public servants. We run specials periodically and do our best to take care of tenants who’ve been with us. Long term tenants are never subject to open market fluctuation or seasonal pricing spikes. We offer a one year price lock guarantee, and will only ever increase rates once per year. In addition, we offer referral credits to all our tenants when they send friends or family our way. It’s the quickest $25 you can earn in this economy, and we always do our very best to be deserving of your recommendation. More questions? Call and ask — we’d rather have that conversation with you directly than make promises here we might not always be able to keep.