Trends in self-storage facility use in Sweden

In the past five years, the use of self-storage facilities in Sweden has grown significantly, with particularly strong demand in urban centers like Stockholm. Both private individuals and businesses are renting storage space at increasing rates.

This report examines recent trends (2019–2024) in Sweden’s self-storage sector, the key factors driving these trends – including urbanization, housing and demographic changes, and economic developments – and provides an outlook for the next 3–5 years.

The analysis draws on recent market data, industry reports, and insights from storage companies to ensure a comprehensive and up-to-date view.

Recent growth in self-storage usage (2019–2024)

Sweden’s self-storage market has expanded steadily over the last five years. As of 2023, the country’s self-storage facilities provide approximately 515,000 square meters of rentable space, with an average occupancy rate above 83%. This indicates that a large majority of available storage space is in use, reflecting robust demand. Major operators have reported even higher occupancy levels – for example, one leading company’s Swedish facilities were 91.4% occupied in late 2024.

In Stockholm, the trend is especially pronounced. The capital’s combination of dense population and housing constraints has made self-storage increasingly popular. Industry sources in 2021 noted that “the storage market in Stockholm has grown enormously in recent years and it is an increase that is expected to continue.” In practice, this has meant more storage centers opening in the Stockholm region and high utilization of existing facilities. Households and businesses in the city have been renting external storage units to gain the extra space they lack in their premises. Overall, Sweden’s self-storage sector has attracted new investment and consolidation as well, with international firms entering the market. For instance, a global investor recently acquired a major Swedish storage operator, citing Sweden’s excellent market fundamentals and strong demand drivers.

Private vs. business use of storage

Private individuals make up the majority of self-storage users in Sweden. Many customers are households using storage for personal belongings – seasonal items, furniture, family possessions, etc. In fact, across the Nordic countries (including Sweden), it was estimated that around 80% of self-storage space was rented by private customers as of 2019, with businesses occupying roughly 20%. This share of business use was below the European average (about 32% in 2019), indicating that historically self-storage in Sweden has been driven more by personal needs than by corporate storage needs.

However, business use has been rising in recent years. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, the proportion of commercial customers grew and remained elevated afterward. Many small businesses, e-commerce entrepreneurs, and startups turned to self-storage for flexible warehousing and inventory space when traditional leases were impractical. Industry reports note that the level of business customers increased during the pandemic and has largely been maintained since, thanks in part to more online and home-based businesses using self-storage. The flexibility of month-to-month storage rentals (without long-term commitment) is especially attractive to small and medium enterprises (SMEs). For example, accountants might store archives, and webshop owners or import/export firms use storage units to manage stock, benefiting from the ability to upscale or downsize space as needed. In summary, while private renters still dominate in Sweden, the gap has narrowed slightly as business demand for storage grows.

Key factors driving the trend

Several underlying factors are fueling the increased use of self-storage in Sweden, particularly in Stockholm:

• Urbanization and population growth: Sweden’s population has grown steadily (about 0.5–1% per year nationally), and a large majority of residents (nearly 89% in 2023) live in urban areas. Cities like Stockholm have seen strong population growth and high urbanisation rates, which together create more demand for storage space. A growing urban population leads to higher population density, and when more people live in each city, living space per person tends to shrink. This urban crowding is a primary driver for self-storage: as one report observes, a higher density city “pushes the need for extra storage space.” Simply put, more people in cities means more overflow belongings that won’t fit at home, boosting the self-storage market.
  
• Housing size and availability constraints: Housing conditions in Sweden’s cities contribute directly to storage demand. Stockholm’s housing market is very tight – home prices and rents are high, and many residents live in small apartments with limited storage space. New residential developments often emphasize “compact living,” making built-in storage (attics, basements) scarce. A local storage provider notes that “as Stockholm expands in all dimensions, we also have less space to live in… The fact that ‘compact living’ has become a buzzword is proof enough. The tough climate in the housing market doesn’t make it any easier.” In practical terms, many Stockholmers lack garages or large closets, so items like off-season sports gear, winter tires, tools, documents, or childhood keepsakes quickly overcrowd their homes. Self-storage offers a pressure valve for this congestion, allowing people to keep possessions without cramping their living space. The housing shortage (especially in Stockholm, which for years has faced a deficit of tens of thousands of homes) and prevalence of smaller dwellings mean external storage units are in high demand as an extension of the home.
  
• High mobility and life transitions: Frequent moves and life events also drive storage needs. Urban residents tend to be more mobile – young professionals moving for jobs, students studying abroad, families relocating, etc. Stockholm in particular sees a lot of people moving to and from the city, or changing apartments within the city, as noted in local reports. During these transitions, people often need temporary storage for furniture and belongings. Additionally, social factors such as increases in single-person households, marriage/divorce rates, or periods spent abroad can create interim storage requirements. For example, a couple moving in together might need extra space for duplicate furniture; a divorce might lead to storing household items; someone going on an extended trip or work assignment might store their personal items. These life events have contributed to a sustained need for short-term storage solutions in Sweden’s urban centers.
  
• Economic growth and consumer behavior: Sweden’s economy has generally grown over the past five years, and with rising prosperity people tend to accumulate more consumer goods. Modern lifestyles in Sweden are often described as materially rich – citizens have abundant sports equipment, electronics, furniture, seasonal clothing, and hobby items. A self-storage firm in Stockholm quipped that Swedes have become “shopping-crazy and hobby-obsessed,” filling their homes with belongings and “it quickly becomes crowded… in the attic, to say the least.” While said in humor, this reflects a real trend: higher consumption means households generate more stored items, from outdoor gear to holiday decorations. Many do not want to permanently declutter by disposing of these items – instead, they seek extra space to stash possessions safely. On the business side, a healthy economy saw growth in small enterprises and e-commerce, sectors which often prefer low-cost flexible storage over investing in larger premises. Overall, economic conditions enabling people to own more stuff (and more businesses to operate) have indirectly spurred the storage industry.
  
• Technology and industry development: Sweden’s tech-savvy culture has also influenced storage trends. The country leads in adopting automated “locker” style self-storage and unmanned facilities. In fact, Sweden has the highest proportion of self-storage sites without permanent staff in Europe. Customers can book units online, access facilities via digital locks or mobile apps, and even have pickup/delivery services for their storage items (offered by startups like Ztorage). This use of technology makes self-storage more convenient and accessible, attracting new users who might not have considered it before. It also lowers operating costs, allowing more small facilities to open across cities (some are even micro-sites in dense neighborhoods). The industry’s modernization – from online rentals to climate-controlled, secure facilities – has improved the appeal of self-storage as a service. Additionally, significant investment has flowed into the Swedish storage market recently. International storage operators and investors see Sweden as a high-potential market due to the favorable demand drivers. For example, one investment firm highlighted Sweden’s “strong population growth… and mobility of households” when expanding into the self-storage sector here. Such capital investments are leading to the construction of new facilities and the expansion of existing ones, further growing supply to meet demand.

Outlook for the next 3–5 years

The forecast for Sweden’s self-storage sector in the near future is generally optimistic, with continued growth expected on both the supply and demand sides. Market analyses project that the trend of expansion will persist, driven by the same fundamentals outlined above. For the broader Scandinavian self-storage market, one industry report anticipates an annual growth rate of roughly 7% (CAGR) in the coming years. Sweden, being one of the largest Nordic markets, is likely to mirror or even exceed this regional growth rate given its current momentum and untapped demand.

In practical terms, several developments are anticipated by industry observers in the next 3–5 years:

• More facilities and higher capacity: New storage facilities are slated to open across Sweden, including in Greater Stockholm. Major operators have pipelines of projects – for instance, companies are investing in converting warehouses or building multi-story self-storage centers in urban areas. This will increase the total floor space available and improve accessibility (with more neighborhood-level sites). Despite this supply growth, industry leaders expect occupancy to remain high, as customer demand is growing in parallel. In fact, some analysts note that the expansion of self-storage could be limited more by finding suitable properties to develop than by lack of customer demand.
  
• Sustained urban demand: Urbanization is a long-term trend – Stockholm and other cities are projected to keep growing in population. Housing stock will take time to catch up, so people will continue facing small living spaces and storage shortages at home. The need for external storage in cities is therefore expected to stay strong or increase. Stockholm in particular is forecasted to remain a hot spot: as one projection indicates, the city’s population will keep rising (on track toward 3 million in the metro area by the mid-2040s), ensuring that urban storage needs won’t abate soon. Self-storage is becoming a more normalized part of city living; more residents view renting a storage unit as a practical extension of their apartment (akin to renting a parking space).
  
• Greater awareness and new customer segments: Public awareness of self-storage in Europe has historically been modest – many people simply never considered using a storage unit. This is changing gradually through marketing and word-of-mouth. There is substantial room for market penetration: surveys show less than one-third of people in many European markets know about self-storage, yet about twice as many people say they would consider using it than actually do. In Sweden, as new facilities open and advertising highlights the convenience, more first-time users (including younger urbanites) are expected to try self-storage. Millennial renters and downsizers could become a growth segment, as they tend to value flexible solutions for living with less space. On the business side, the shift to e-commerce and remote work may produce more small enterprises and independent contractors who need storage (for inventory, files, equipment), sustaining the higher level of business usage. The next few years might also see innovative services (like full-service storage with pickup) lowering the barriers for consumers to utilize storage space.
  
• Technology and service evolution: The Swedish self-storage industry will likely continue its tech-driven evolution. By 2028, an even larger share of facilities may operate stafflessly with smart access control, which lowers costs and enables 24/7 customer access. Automation and digital platforms could make renting storage as easy as booking a hotel room, further improving customer experience. Additionally, value-added services might grow – for example, climate-controlled units for delicate items, or integrated logistics services for businesses. Some companies already offer transport of goods to the storage site (as Ztorage does in Stockholm), and this model could expand. Overall, these innovations aim to make self-storage more convenient, which should help attract a broader user base over the next few years.
  
• Market maturity and competition: As demand stays strong, Sweden’s self-storage market is maturing. We can expect more competition among storage providers, potentially keeping rental rates competitive. Larger international brands (e.g. Shurgard, Pelican, City Self-Storage) are expanding their Swedish presence, and local players are also growing or merging (e.g. Green Storage’s recent merger and acquisitions forming the largest Swedish operator). This competition could spur better facilities and promotions to win customers. Even so, industry experts view Sweden as having “among the best fundamentals in Europe” for self-storage investment, so new entrants may still come into the market. In the near future, consolidation might continue (with smaller independent sites being acquired by bigger companies), and the overall professionalism and visibility of the sector will increase.

In summary, the outlook is for sustained growth: more Swedes – both individuals and businesses – are expected to utilize self-storage, and providers will expand to meet that demand. Barring any unforeseen economic downturns, the next 3–5 years should see Sweden’s self-storage capacity grow and usage rates remain high. By catering to the needs created by urban living and modern lifestyles, the industry is poised to become an even more entrenched part of Sweden’s urban infrastructure.

Sources

1. https://www.fedessa.org/en-gb/publications/industry-reports
2. https://www.cbre.co.uk/insights/reports/european-self-storage-annual-report
3. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240122462492/en/Nuveen-Real-Estate-Invests-in-Nordic-Self-Storage-Market
4. https://www.branschkoll.se/green-storage-och-minilager-i-sverige-gar-ihop/
5. https://www.scb.se/en/finding-statistics/statistics-by-subject-area/population/population-projections/population-projections/