8/10/25

Your Ultimate Guide to Washington University in St. Louis Storage

Hey everyone! So, you're at WashU, which is awesome. The classes, the campus, the whole vibe is top-tier. But then comes the end of the semester, & you're faced with a puzzle that has plagued students for generations: what in the WORLD do you do with all your stuff?
Whether you're heading home for the summer, studying abroad, or just caught in that awkward gap between leases, figuring out storage is a REAL headache. Do you drag everything back home? Do you try to cram it all into a friend's already-cramped apartment? Or do you find a storage solution that actually works?
Honestly, navigating the world of student storage can feel like a whole extra course load. There are so many options, from services that come to your dorm room door to old-school storage units where you do all the heavy lifting. That's why I've put together this massive guide. We're going to break down EVERYTHING you need to know about storage at Washington University in St. Louis. We’ll look at the official school partners, the budget-friendly DIY routes, & even some clever alternatives you probably haven't thought of.

The Two Main Flavors of Student Storage: Full-Service vs. DIY

First things first, let's get the lay of the land. When it comes to student storage, you’re basically looking at two main paths: the full-service, "we-handle-it-for-you" companies, & the do-it-yourself (DIY) traditional storage units.
Full-Service Student Storage: These companies are built specifically for students. Their whole business model is based on convenience. The typical process goes something like this:
  1. You sign up online & they often send you a kit with boxes & tape.
  2. They schedule a pickup day right from your dorm or apartment.
  3. Their team comes, collects your packed items, & takes them to a secure, often climate-controlled, facility.
  4. When you're ready to come back to campus, they deliver your belongings directly to your new room.
The BIGGEST selling point here is the sheer convenience. No renting a truck, no hauling boxes up and down stairs, no begging friends for help. It's a lifesaver, especially if you don't have a car on campus or you're flying home.
DIY Self-Storage: This is the more traditional route. You rent a storage unit at a facility near campus. You’re responsible for:
  1. Packing up all your stuff.
  2. Getting it to the storage facility (which usually means renting a U-Haul or borrowing a friend's car).
  3. Loading everything into your unit.
  4. When the new semester starts, you do the whole process in reverse.
The main advantage here is usually COST. You can often find a cheap monthly rate, especially if you split a unit with friends. But, and it's a big but, you're trading money for a significant amount of your own time & effort.
Now, let's dive into the specific companies & options available to WashU students.

The Big Players: Full-Service Storage for WashU Students

There are a few companies that have really focused on the WashU market. They know the academic calendar, they know the dorms, & they've streamlined the process.

University Trucking (UTrucking): The Official Choice

If you're looking for the university's official stamp of approval, this is it. University Trucking is WashU's "preferred vendor" for student storage, and they've been serving the campus since 1977. That's a long time, & they're proudly operated by WashU students, which is pretty cool.
  • How it Works: UTrucking is a classic full-service operation. You register for a $49 fee, which gets you a "UTrucking kit" with 5 boxes, tape, & bubble wrap. They offer pickup directly from your dorm or off-campus apartment. A huge perk for on-campus students is their "Late Access" pickup, where they can retrieve your items after you've already left for break. When you return, your items are delivered to your new room, often waiting for you when you arrive.
  • Pricing: They use a per-item pricing model with a fixed 4-month term for summer storage. You don't have to know exactly what you're storing beforehand; they bill you after pickup. Here’s a peek at their monthly rates for common items:
    • UTrucking Box (4.0 ft³): $22/month
    • Mini Fridge: Around $18/month
    • Televisions (30" or less): $23/month
    • Bicycle: Varies, but expect it to be in the $20-30/month range.
  • The Student Buzz: Being the official vendor comes with mixed reviews, which is common. Some students on Reddit praise the convenience, especially the in-room pickup & delivery. However, others find it to be quite expensive compared to other options, with some calling it "super duper overpriced." There have been complaints about reliability during the crazy end-of-semester rush. But the fact that over half of WashU students reportedly use them speaks volumes about the convenience factor.

Storage Scholars: The Other "Official" Partner

Here's where it gets interesting. Storage Scholars also claims to be an "official partner" of WashU. They offer a very similar full-service model & have a strong national presence at many universities.
  • How it Works: Much like UTrucking, you sign up for a registration fee ($49.99), and they ship you packing supplies. Their team then picks up your items on a scheduled date, stores them in a climate-controlled facility, & delivers them back to your new room when you return. They also offer shipping services, which is handy for graduates.
  • Pricing: They also work on a per-item monthly basis. Their registration fee is nearly identical to UTrucking's. While specific per-item prices for WashU weren't immediately available, their model is competitive & designed to scale based on what you store.
  • The Student Buzz: Storage Scholars has a high rating based on thousands of reviews nationally (4.7 stars). They emphasize their professionalism & customer service. The dual "official partner" status might just mean the university gives students a couple of vetted options to choose from.

Greenbox Storage: The Challenger

Greenbox is another popular option that gets mentioned a lot by students looking for alternatives. They offer a very similar door-to-door service and actively market to WashU students.
  • How it Works: The process is the same: sign up, get supplies, pack, they pick up, they store, they deliver. They emphasize their affordability & communication.
  • Pricing: Greenbox also uses per-item pricing. They have a reservation fee of $25. Their per-box rates can be as low as $11-$14 a month, which is VERY competitive. They also have complimentary pickup/drop-off days tied to the academic calendar, but custom dates will cost extra.
  • The Student Buzz: On Reddit, Greenbox comes up frequently as a good alternative to UTrucking. Students have called it "pretty cheap too" & praised the convenience. One student who had a bad experience with a traditional storage unit recommended Greenbox for its ease of use.

STL Rent A Box: The Eco-Friendly Option

This name popped up in a few student discussions as a highly recommended local service. Their angle is a bit different & focuses on sustainability.
  • How it Works: Instead of cardboard, they provide durable, eco-friendly plastic boxes for you to pack. They offer a summer storage program for WashU students with dorm lobby pickup.
  • The Student Buzz: Students who've used them seem to love them. They're described as "cheap, eco friendly, and they picked up and dropped off the next year on campus." This is a great example of a local company providing a tailored, well-regarded service.

The DIY Route: Saving Money with Self-Storage

If you're on a tighter budget & don't mind a little bit of work, the DIY self-storage route can save you a significant amount of money. An old College Confidential post highlighted a student who split a 5x5 unit with friends for just $65 per person for the summer, versus a potential $400+ with a full-service option at the time. That's a HUGE difference.
Here’s what you need to know about going this route.

Finding a Facility

There are plenty of storage facilities within a short drive of campus. Popular choices mentioned by students include:
  • Public Storage: They have multiple locations, with the one on Wilson Ave being a common choice for students.
  • Life Storage: The facility on Manchester Rd has also been used & recommended by WashU students.
  • EZ Storage: They specifically advertise to WashU students and have a location on Manchester Avenue less than 10 minutes from campus.
  • Extra Space Storage: Another major national brand with facilities in the area.

What Size Unit Do You Need?

For most students, a 5x5 unit is the perfect size. It’s roughly the size of a large closet & can typically hold a desk, a chair, a dresser, a twin mattress, & several boxes. If you're sharing with a friend, this is almost always enough space.

The Cost of DIY Storage

This is where you can really save. I did some digging, & here's what you can expect to pay for a 5x5 unit near WashU:
  • Prices can range from $30 to $60 per month.
  • Some facilities offer amazing introductory deals, like $9 for the first month or even $1 for the first month. ALWAYS read the fine print on these deals, but they can be a great way to cut costs.
  • Remember to factor in the "hidden" costs:
    • Truck Rental: A U-Haul van or small truck might cost you $50-$100 for a day, including mileage & fees.
    • Insurance: Most facilities require you to have insurance. Sometimes your parent's homeowner's policy covers it, but you might need to buy it from the facility.
    • A Lock: You'll need to buy a sturdy lock for your unit.
Even with these extra costs, you’re likely to come out WAY ahead of the full-service options, especially if you share the unit & the truck rental with a couple of friends. A summer's worth of storage could easily be under $150 per person.

The DIY Downsides: A Student's Warning

While the cost savings are tempting, don't underestimate the hassle factor. One student on Reddit shared their bad experience with a self-storage unit, saying, "it was very difficult to get my stuff to the unit: stressful and hard. There were no carts to move the stuff from the car to the unit." They also came back to find rat droppings on their belongings. This is a crucial reminder that you get what you pay for. Climate control is a feature worth paying a little extra for in the humid St. Louis summers, & you should always check the facility's cleanliness & security features.

A Smarter, More Flexible Alternative: Prked

Okay, so we've covered the big corporate players & the traditional DIY route. But what if there was a third option? Something that blends the affordability of DIY with some of the convenience of full-service?
This is where a platform like Prked comes in. It's a pretty cool concept that's all about peer-to-peer space sharing.
Here’s the thing: there are hundreds of homeowners, right in the neighborhoods around WashU, who have unused space. Think about all the empty garages, basements, attics, or even large closets. Prked connects people who need storage with these local homeowners who are willing to rent out their extra space.
  • For Storage: Instead of a formal storage facility, you could rent a corner of a garage from a professor who lives a few blocks from campus. It’s often WAY cheaper than a commercial unit, and you can find options that are literally within walking distance, eliminating the need for a truck rental. You're storing your stuff in a residential neighborhood, which can feel a lot more secure than a massive, anonymous facility. It’s a fantastic solution for storing furniture, boxes, or even a bike for the summer.
  • For Vehicle Storage: This brings us to another major headache: cars. If you have a car on campus but are heading home for the summer without it, what do you do? On-campus parking is expensive & often not an option for summer-long storage. A 10x20 storage unit for a car can cost over $100 a month at a traditional facility. With Prked, you can find a local resident renting out their empty driveway or a space in their garage for a fraction of the cost. It's a secure, affordable, & super convenient way to handle vehicle storage. You're not just a random car in a giant lot; you're parked at a specific, local address.
The beauty of Prked is the flexibility & the community aspect. You're dealing with a real person, your neighbor, not a big corporation. This can lead to more flexible arrangements & much better prices. It's the perfect middle ground for the student who wants to save money but doesn't want the full hassle of a traditional storage unit.

Making Your Decision: A Quick Cheat Sheet

I know that was a TON of information. So, let's try to simplify it.
  • Choose Full-Service (UTrucking, Storage Scholars, etc.) if:
    • Convenience is your absolute #1 priority.
    • You don't have a car on campus.
    • Your parents are footing the bill & value the peace of mind.
    • You're flying home & can't deal with the logistics.
  • Choose DIY Self-Storage (Public Storage, etc.) if:
    • You are on a strict budget.
    • You have access to a car or are willing to rent a U-Haul.
    • You have a friend or two to share the unit & the work with.
    • You're willing to trade your time & effort for significant cost savings.
  • Choose a Flexible Alternative like Prked if:
    • You want the best of both worlds: affordability & convenience.
    • You want to find a storage or parking spot super close to campus.
    • You need to store a vehicle without breaking the bank.
    • You like the idea of a community-based, peer-to-peer solution.
No matter which path you choose, the key is to plan ahead. The end of the semester is chaotic for everyone, & storage options fill up FAST. Start researching in March or early April to lock in the best rates & ensure you get a spot.
Hope this was helpful! Figuring out the logistics of college life is half the battle. Making a smart choice on storage can save you a lot of money & a massive headache. Let me know what you think or if you have any other tips for WashU students
;