The European self-storage industry continues to grow and evolve. Across the region, operators are opening new facilities, expanding existing locations, and finding new ways to maximize their available space.
According to the 2025 European Self Storage Industry Report from FEDESSA and CBRE, Europe has an estimated 10,571 self-storage facilities representing approximately 17.7 million square meters of storage space. The UK, France, Spain, and Germany account for a significant share of the European market. At the same time, operators surveyed identified rising land costs as their biggest concern.
As land becomes more valuable and operators look for flexible ways to grow, outdoor storage is becoming an increasingly relevant part of the European self-storage market.
External storage units provide another way to add rentable space, expand an existing facility, or develop a new self-storage site while making efficient use of available land.
Making Better Use of Available Land
Not every part of a self-storage property is easy to develop. Facilities may have unused space along the perimeter, irregular sections of land, or areas where construction another traditional building may not make sense. External storage units give operators another way to look at those spaces.
Units can be incorporated into site layouts along fencelines, around existing buildings, and in other underused areas of a property. For established facilities, this can create opportunities to add rentable storage without expanding the main building.
This becomes especially valuable as the cost of land increases. Instead of only looking for additional property, operators can consider how to get more from the site they already have.
Expanding an Existing Self-Storage Facility
For facilities experiencing growing demand, expansion doesn’t always require constructing another permanent building. External storage units offer a flexible way to increase capacity while working within an existing site’s layout. Boxwell’s external storage units arrive flat-packed for efficient transportation and can be assembled on-site, allowing operators to add a few drive-up units or develop a larger external storage area depending on their property and needs.
Outdoor and indoor self-storage can work together at the same site. Customers who value convenient vehicle access can use outdoor units, while customers indoor units remain available for customers who prefer that storage experience. Offering both can give operators more options when planning their facility and overall unit mix.
The Ability to Grow in Phases
Another advantage of adding external storage units is the ability to approach expansion in phases. Rather than developing an entire site at once, operators can add units as their facility grows and demand develops. Additional capacity can then be introduced as needed.
This approach can be particularly useful for operators entering a new market or expanding a property where future demand is still being established. It also gives operators an opportunity to learn from the site itself. Which unit sizes are renting? Where is demand strongest? How are customers using the facility?
Future phases can then be planned around what operators are seeing in their local market.
Flexibility as Facility Needs Change
Self-storage sites don’t always remain the same. Facilities expand. Layouts change, Customer demand shifts. New opportunities arise.
Relocatable external storage units provide flexibility because they can be repositioned as a site evolves or relocated when operational needs change. For operators with multiple facilities, this flexibility can also provide more options for how storage capacity is distributed across different locations.
Creating the Right Unit Mix
Adding rentable space is only valuable when that space matches customer demand. Outdoor storage can be configured to create different unit sizes within the same footprint. Larger units can serve customers who need substantial storage space, while internal partitions can create multiple smaller units.
For example, Boxwell’s relocatable storage units can be configured as one large unit or divided into 2 or 4 smaller storage spaces. This gives operators another way to adjust their unit mix around the needs of their local market rather than relying on a single unit size throughout an outdoor storage area.
Using Vertical Space
When available land is limited, operators can also look upward. Stackable outdoor storage units can be used to create two-story storage configurations, with stairs and walkways providing access to upper-level units. This can increase the amount of rentable storage available within the same site footprint.
The suitability of a two-story configuration depends on the property, site design, local planning and building requirements, and customer needs. For European facilities where land availability and cost can present challenges, making use of vertical space can become an important part of the planning conversation.
External Storage as Part of a Larger Facility Strategy
Outdoor and indoor self-storage do not have to be an either-or decision. A facility may combine indoor storage, outdoor drive-up units, and converted existing buildings to create a site that serves different customers and storage needs. The right approach will depend on the property, local market, customer demand, planning requirements, and long-term plans for the facility.
As the European self-storage market continues to develop, flexibility is increasingly valuable. Operators are looking for ways to make better use of land, respond to demand, and create additional rentable space. Outdoor storage gives them another way to do that.
Boxwell designs, manufactures, and installs industry-leading storage solutions. Our lineup includes relocatable self-storage units, portable containers, hallway systems, and roll up doors. Every product is fully customizable and built to last—trusted by companies across the United States, Canada, Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia, the Middle East, Asia, and beyond.
Boxwell is Built For Your Success. From the start, our mission has been simple: create the best B2B storage products and back them with outstanding customer support. Our clients gain access to dedicated Account Managers, design and installation services, and extensive product warranties.
We are here to help. Contact Boxwell today via our email, sales@boxwell.co, or call 303-317-5850.