FEDESSA and Self Storage reports: how to use the data

What is FEDESSA?

FEDESSA is the European federation of self storage industry associations. Its 2025 report, prepared with CBRE, includes both an operator survey and a consumer survey. These are different sources of data and should not be confused. [FEDESSA/CBRE — European Self Storage Industry Report 2025, methodology pp. 4–5]

For a first-time investor, this kind of material is a useful reference point. It shows which metrics operators analyse and helps you understand discussions with suppliers. It is not, however, a set of ready-made results to copy into your own spreadsheet.

Start by checking who was surveyed

The operator section of the 2025 report included responses from 138 operators representing 1,447 facilities in 16 countries. The consumer survey covered Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Portugal. Those answers do not automatically describe every European market or the catchment area of a particular site. [FEDESSA/CBRE — European Self Storage Industry Report 2025, methodology pp. 4–5]

• Check whether the data comes from operators, consumers or a market estimate.
• Record the period it covers, not just the year on the cover.
• Look at which countries and facility types the survey includes.
• Distinguish the number of companies surveyed from the number of facilities represented.
• Read the notes and limitations below each table.

If the report has no data for the segment you are interested in, leave that gap visible. A precise number from another market does not become more useful simply because it looks good in a presentation.

What does the Storage Pulse directory cover? Snapshot of 3 October 2026

The published Storage Pulse dataset contains 59 infrastructure profiles, 15 software systems and 467 facilities. These are counts of our directory entries, not a market-size study. We use our own data to illustrate how to read a dataset; the figures below do not come from the FEDESSA report.

The role field in 35 of the 59 infrastructure profiles includes the Polish term for manufacturer. The other 24 use different recorded roles. This is a count of directory labels, not fresh verification of who makes a particular product. A brand or supplier profile need not represent an independent legal entity.

Shurgard accounts for 354 of the 467 facility entries (75.8%). Less Mess Storage has 19 entries; together these two recorded operator names account for 79.9% of the dataset. This describes concentration within our directory, not operators’ market shares.

Both type and access are missing in 82 facility records, so adding the two counts would double-count some facilities. Missing access information means neither no access nor 24/7 access. A recorded source and verification date in every record do not prove an offer is still current; we have not contacted suppliers or rechecked their offers for this analysis.

• Source: published Storage Pulse directory data as of 3 October 2026. Analysis version: E028-2026-10-03-v1.1. The date identifies the dataset snapshot, not a new review of offers.
• Each entry is counted once within its group, using its unique entry identifier. Language versions do not increase entry counts. A facility is a location record, not a storage unit, square metre or independent company.
• Countries, roles and operators are grouped by recorded values. We do not infer countries from domains, consolidate brands by assumed ownership or fill gaps from memory.
• Missing means an absent field, null or an empty value. Optional fields such as profile notes or extra category lists are not treated as completeness failures. Percentages use only the stated denominator and are rounded to one decimal place.
• This is an editorially selected dataset, with no random sampling or complete market register as a reference. We do not estimate market shares, representativeness, growth or confidence intervals. New versions can change the counts through added or corrected entries.

Reader-facing sources: the three Storage Pulse directories. The tables describe a frozen version; live directories may later show different counts. [Storage Pulse — manufacturers and suppliers] [Storage Pulse — software] [Storage Pulse — facilities]

Suggested citation: Storage Pulse, ‘Directory coverage — snapshot of 3 October 2026’, E028-2026-10-03-v1.1. Include the table name, unit and limitation: directory data, not the whole market.

Record the definition alongside the number

Do not compare an annual figure with a monthly price list without converting it. Equally, do not confuse occupied units with rented floor area. When unit sizes vary, these metrics answer different questions.

How to calculate your own facility's performance rather than copying an average

Combine the report with local research

European data helps you form a hypothesis: which needs are worth investigating and which solutions exist. The next step is local: examine access, competitors, available storage sizes and customer enquiries in your area.

Local statistics on residents, housing and businesses can add to your understanding of the catchment area. They do not directly establish how many units will be rented. Explore that through local conversations, testing your offer and the results of the first phase.

This matters particularly in a smaller town. The performance of large facilities abroad neither rules out a local opportunity nor confirms one. Look for a specific need that you can meet more conveniently than the available alternatives.

Assessing Self Storage potential in a small town

Keep a concise record of your sources

For each number you use, record the document, page, period, unit of measurement and surveyed group. Add one sentence: ‘What am I using this information for?’ If you cannot identify a decision it supports, you probably do not need it in your business plan.

When the next edition appears, check the methodology before updating your chart. A new figure may also reflect a changed sample or a better understanding of the market. Keep the previous source and a note explaining the change: this makes reports support decisions rather than create false certainty.

Location analysis in the main investor's guide