Storage units Durango residents rent fall into two camps: a unit you drive to, or a steel container that gets delivered to you. Which one fits depends less on how much stuff you have and more on what you're doing with it. A downsizing move needs one thing. A construction site needs another. A ranch outside city limits needs something else again. Here's how to sort it out before you sign anything.
When is a self-storage unit the right call?
Most people picture a gated lot of roll-up doors on a month-to-month lease. Sizes run from a small closet up to a space that holds a house's worth of furniture. That works well for seasonal rotation (skis in summer, camping gear in winter), for a move where you need months to sort things, or for overflow from an apartment with no garage.
The catch is access. You drive to the unit. That's fine for things you grab twice a year and annoying for anything you need daily. Climate control matters for electronics, photos and leather. It matters less for skis or a snowblower. Ask what the extra money actually buys before you default to the pricier unit.
When is a portable container better?
When the stuff needs to stay close and locked. A container drives to you, then sits in the driveway, on the job site or in the back pasture for as long as the project runs. You can rent it, buy it or rent-to-own, depending on whether you need it for a season or a decade.
A few situations where that wins:
- Construction sites. Tools and materials stay locked on-site, so you skip the daily haul in a truck bed.
- Ranch and acreage properties. Much of La Plata County sits outside city limits. A container works like an instant shed for feed, tools and equipment.
- Remodels and slow moves. Staging one in the driveway beats loading a unit, driving across town and unloading twice.
- Business overflow. Seasonal inventory can live in a container in the back lot instead of leased square footage.
- Estate clean-outs. Sorting a family property takes time. A container on site lets you work at your own pace.
What should you ask about delivery?
Mountain roads and long gravel driveways make delivery a real question, not a formality. Ask the company about four things:
- Truck access. A delivery truck needs room to maneuver. A steep or narrow drive should be scouted before delivery day.
- Placement. The ground should be reasonably level and solid. Soft dirt, deep snow or a steep grade can delay the drop.
- Winter timing. If your road isn't plowed, ask how the company handles a January delivery.
- Permits. Rules can differ between the City of Durango and unincorporated La Plata County for a container that stays long-term. Ask the city or county planning office before you commit.
What does it cost?
Prices move, so treat any figure as a starting point. Hercules Containers lists three container rentals starting at $70, $85 and $115 per 4-week period on its own site, and container moves starting at $200 an hour (as of October 2026). Self-storage pricing varies by facility and unit size, so get a written quote from each. A container often wins on total cost for a defined project once you count the fuel and hours spent driving to a facility. A small unit usually wins for a few boxes.
Should you rent, buy or rent-to-own?
Match the choice to the timeline. Renting suits a build, a remodel or a move with an end date. Buying suits a permanent need, like a shed replacement on a ranch. Rent-to-own splits the difference, since payments build toward ownership. Hercules advertises rent-to-own starting from $99 down. Not every company offers all three, so ask.
Who delivers containers in Durango?
Hercules Storage Containers operates from a yard at 281 S Skylane Dr, Unit C. It stocks steel containers from 8 to 40 feet, to rent, buy or customize, and delivers to construction sites, ranches and homes across the Four Corners, per its website. It also moves containers that are already on your property, which helps when a project's timeline changes. It holds a 5.0 rating on Google from 21 reviews (October 2026). If the container needs to sit on-site rather than across town, it's the local name to call before you compare a unit quote.
Which self-storage facilities are in town?
If a unit is the better fit, start with these, with addresses from their listings:
- Armadillo Storage, 1555 CO-3 (4.9 rating, 265 reviews)
- Cubby Hole Storage, 1405 Florida Rd
- Coyote Storage, 354 S Camino del Rio
- Durango Storage Units, 1129 Main Ave
- Durango Moving And Storage, if you want help with the move itself
Call early for summer. June through August is when space tightens, container or unit.
How do you decide?
Seasonal gear or a slow move? Book a unit and don't overthink it. A job site, a ranch, or anything that must stay locked and on-site? A container solves what a unit can't. Relocating to Durango entirely? The moving to Durango guide covers the wider checklist, and the home services guide covers the trades you'll need after.