Self-storage lighting is the design and setup of safe, efficient illumination across your storage units, drive aisles, corridors, office, and perimeter so customers can see clearly, feel secure, and you can control your operating costs.
In self-storage, lighting directly affects energy bills, safety and crime prevention, tenant experience, maintenance workload, and long-term profitability.
Key takeaways:
- Switching to LEDs can cut self-storage lighting energy use by 60–90%, depending on the facility and control strategy.
- LED lamps commonly deliver 40,000–80,000 hours of life, drastically reducing maintenance and lamp replacement.
- Brighter, blue-white LED light improves safety, visibility, and camera footage, while avoiding the dim orange “gloom” of older lamps.
- Simple changes like motion sensors, dimmers, automatic shut-offs, and better outdoor fixtures take savings and security even further.
Relumination helps self-storage facilities reduce energy costs, lower maintenance expenses, decrease their environmental footprint, and improve quality of light through energy-efficient lighting solutions.
In this guide we’ll walk through why traditional lighting is so costly, how LED lighting solves those problems, how controls and simple design choices drive extra savings, real case studies and numbers, tax and utility incentives, and how Relumination supports self-storage owners with turnkey LED upgrades.
Why Does Self-Storage Lighting Matters?
According to Self Storage Association figures, more than 58,000 self-storage facilities are located around the globe.
Collectively, the facilities are primarily utilized by people in transit who value security features and other amenities.
One of those valued features is proper self-storage lighting. Thus, the costs associated with self-storage lighting tend to be of primary concern to self-storage facility owners.
Whether your self-storage complex is indoor or outdoor, you know the lights need to stay on all night. That’s a great way to rack up utility bills, not to mention the effect using that much energy has on the environment.
At the same time, if you have no lighting for your units, you are putting your customers’ safety at risk, especially during the nighttime.
Self-storage lighting is critically important for a variety of reasons:
- It keeps tenants safe and comfortable when accessing their units in the evening.
- It protects valuables and helps deter theft and vandalism.
- It shapes how clean, modern, and professional your property feels.
- It is one of your largest ongoing operating expenses.
That’s why more and more facility owners are asking the same question: How do I keep my property bright and safe without letting the light bill eat my profits?
What is The Problem with Traditional Self-Storage Lighting
Running any kind of business can be a very rewarding experience… but it can also be costly.
It is important to look into opportunities for reducing overhead costs, and this is where self-storage lighting shines.
While traditional lighting can be obtained at a fairly inexpensive price, the cons are hefty:
- High-pressure sodium and metal halide lamps produce a dim glow where thieves can hide in the shadows of the gloomy light.
- Conventional incandescent bulbs convert only a fraction of their electricity into light, and the rest is wasted. The wasted energy is usually emitted as heat, instead of light.
- Incandescent bulbs typically burn out after about 1,000 hours of use. If you run a 24/7 facility that leaves the lights on, these bulbs can burn out in just a little over a month.
- Fluorescent lights often contain toxic mercury and fragile glass, require frequent replacement, and can be damaged by temperature swings or impacts.
Traditional lighting is subpar to newer types and extremely expensive to run on a constant basis.
As a result, it’s easy to see how you can benefit from making the switch to LED lighting. It’s a better alternative in just about every way.
Why LED Lighting Reigns Supreme in Self-Storage?
If you’re looking to go green or save some green, switching to LED lights can be the perfect solution to your self-storage lighting needs.
Below we will discuss the four main advantages.
1. Far More Energy-Efficient
Compared to conventional lighting, LED lights use as much as 70% less energy. Self-storage facilities can rack up utility bills – after all, lighting an ample outdoor space throughout the night can quickly add up. Naturally, switching to more cost-effective means for your outdoor lighting needs should be high on your priorities list – the savings can’t be overlooked.
In practice, depending on your starting point and design:
- Some facilities see around 60% savings on lighting costs.
- Others see around 80% savings after replacing metal-halide or HPS lamps with LEDs.
- With optimized controls and smarter layouts, savings can approach up to 90% in energy costs.
Using LED lighting can save you up to 90% percent in energy costs. Being able to get this large percentage in savings means you can lower your overhead expenses for running a self-storage complex dramatically.
2. Brighter, Safer, Better-Looking Light
Since LEDs harness a much greater percentage of the electricity they use as light, they shine much brighter than conventional bulbs. As an added bonus, LEDs are dimmable, and turn on instantly with no need for a warming-up period, meaning you can custom-set the light level to fit your needs.
Self-storage customers are looking for a place that looks clean, safe and has ample lighting at night. Studies show brighter white and blue-hued lights are much safer than dim orange and yellow-tinted ones. Not only do LED lights shine a brilliant blue-white, but they’re also much brighter than traditional bulbs, making for better lighting throughout the night.
The result: Your facility looks new, well-maintained, and professional rather than dim and dated.
3. Dramatically Longer Life and Durability
LED lights have a much longer life:
- Many LED fixtures are rated for 40,000–50,000 hours of use, or 40 to 50 times the lifespan of an incandescent bulb.
- Some self-storage retrofits report nearly 80,000 hours of expected life, or more than nine years of service, without maintenance.
Even better, LED lights aren’t as fragile as glass bulbs, and they don’t contain toxic mercury like fluorescent lights, meaning it’s less likely for them to break – and not be dangerous when they do.
LEDs are also built to withstand extreme weather conditions and temperatures, and are sealed tightly so they do not have to be cleaned. For an outdoor-heavy business like self-storage, that’s a crucial advantage.
4. Environmentally Friendly
Every kilowatt you save is less strain on the grid and the environment. LEDs:
- Use a fraction of the energy of legacy lamps.
- Do not contain mercury.
- Generate far less waste over time because of their extended lifespans.
If you’re looking to go green and showcase your facility as environmentally conscious, LED lighting is one of the most visible and impactful steps you can take.
Real-World Case Studies: Savings and Performance
Assured Self Storage – Duncanville, Texas
Assured Self Storage in Duncanville, Texas, replaced its 150-watt metal-halide lamps with 20-watt LED wall packs, which reduced its energy costs by 80%. The new LED lamps have an estimated 50,000-hour lifespan and are made with durable die-cast aluminum housing that can withstand extreme weather conditions much better than traditional outdoor lamps.
Assured Self Storage also just installed 32 security cameras inside and outside of the units, and the bright light from the LED wall packs outside will help capture footage of people inside and outside of the units. Security cameras are no benefit when they do not capture clear images. In fact, having security cameras in a poorly lit facility creates a potential liability for self-storage owners.
Stafford Storage – Connecticut
In Connecticut, Stafford Storage, a facility open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, retrofitted its 50,000 square-foot facility with 15-watt LED linear tubes, saving 60% on its lighting costs. The new lighting is expected to last nearly 80,000 hours, more than nine years, without maintenance.
Safe Haven Self Storage – Mount Kisco, New York
In Mount Kisco, New York, Safe Haven Self Storage replaced its incandescent, fluorescent and halogen lamps with longer-lasting LEDs. Kristian Pariseau, Safe Haven director of operations, commented on saving a substantial amount of money not only on electricity, but also not having to replace lamps as often as they did with the old lighting.
Tempe Storage Company – Arizona
Take the Tempe Storage Company, for example. After installing LED wall packs, the facility’s monthly electricity bill was reduced by more than 80%. Over one year, it reduced the owner’s yearly lighting expenditures by more than $3,800 – not even counting the money saved on yearly maintenance costs.
These case studies make one thing clear: LED lighting isn’t theory; it’s proven performance in real self-storage environments.
Safety, Security, and Crime Prevention with LEDs
When customers look for a self-storage facility to store old furniture or family treasures, they are looking for a place that looks clean, safe and has ample lighting at night.
High-pressure sodium lamps produce a dim glow where thieves can hide in the shadows of the gloomy light. To increase security around the units, many companies have chosen to install LED lighting.
The bright light allows customers to feel safer when accessing their units in the evening and lets them feel at peace when they’re away, knowing their valuables are safely stored.
LED lighting improves security in several ways:
- Fewer dark corners around buildings and between rows.
- Better facial recognition and plate capture on camera footage.
- Improved visibility for tenants walking, driving, and loading at night.
- A clear message that the property is well-managed and monitored.
The increased light also allows storage facilities to see more detail on their security cameras.
As members of the International Crime Free Association, Relumination can help you assess your facility and look not only at maintenance and electricity savings but also at potential liabilities created by poor lighting. Your customers will thank you for it.
Lower Operation and Maintenance Expenses
Self-storage owners know that one of their top priorities is spending as little money as possible on operational costs to keep prices low for their customers.
Lighting is usually a large portion of those expenses, but it really depends on the lighting setup you have for your business.
Fortunately, it is possible to turn this major expense into a minor one by making the correct changes to your self-storage lighting situation.
Energy Savings: Turning a Major Cost into a Minor One
Having to light an entire complex (including inside the storage units themselves) can really eat into your profits. So reducing this expense is definitely something to aim for. As we’ve seen:
- Facilities have saved 60–80% of their lighting energy simply by swapping fixtures.
- With optimized layouts and smart controls, lighting can save up to 90% in energy costs.
Imagine cutting your utility bills by 70% or more and redirecting those dollars into marketing, improvements, or your bottom line.
Maintenance Savings: Less Time on Ladders
One way to save money is by installing LED lighting. Not only are there thousands of dollars to be saved in energy costs, there is even more money to be saved in maintenance costs.
Most LED lamps offer a lifespan of more than 50,000 hours, equaling years of maintenance-free operation. LEDs are:
- Built to withstand extreme weather conditions and temperatures.
- Sealed tightly so they do not have to be cleaned.
Durable, so they are less likely to break from vibration, wind, or minor impacts.
When you use LED lights, they will last longer than a fluorescent bulb and an incandescent bulb.
Even if the light bulb stays on consistently for seven or eight hours a day (or all night in exterior applications), you can go a long time without having to buy any replacement light bulbs.
Since LED lights do not need to be changed regularly, they are great for your self-storage facilities. They are durable and you will not have to spend a significant amount of money on maintenance costs.
Smarter Lighting Strategies: Dimmers, Motion Sensors, and Controls
LEDs themselves are a big part of the savings story, but controls and smart design help you go even further.
Dimmers in Offices and Common Areas
Depending on the day, you may need some light in your office because the natural sunlight is not enough to light effectively, but this does not mean you should have to use the maximum amount of light you can get from your lights. An easy fix is installing dimmers, which allow you to adjust how much lighting is produced. Being able to adjust the lighting to your specific needs will help you better control lighting costs and tune the atmosphere.
Motion Sensor Lighting in Corridors and Drive Aisles
Instead of having night lights on at all times, you can get motion sensor lighting to give you, your employees, and your customers the light they need to traverse through your facility safely. It is a very energy-efficient way to use lighting, as it is only used when there are people around.
Combined with instant-on LEDs, motion sensors:
- Keep areas dark or dim when unoccupied.
- Bring light to full brightness the moment someone arrives.
- Extend fixture life even further by reducing run-hours.
Globe Fixtures and Better Outdoor Coverage
In order to maximize the light you get on facility grounds, you should look into globe fixtures, as this will produce reliable area-of-effect lighting.
It is an addition that will prevent you from needing so many lights, which is another great way to save money, but while also providing enough light to those in need.
Automatic Shut-Offs and Scheduling for Interior Unit Lights
Some self-storage users will forget to turn off the unit’s interior lights before they lock up their goods. Oftentimes, the best way to combat that problem is to install LED lights that feature automatic shut-offs or dimmer switches.
That way, the self-storage unit’s interior lighting could be programmed to shut off or dim in accordance with the facility’s policies.
For example, let’s assume that the self-storage unit closes every night at midnight and reopens at 5 a.m. The facility’s staff could program all interior self-storage lights to shut off promptly at midnight.
All of these strategies make sure you’re never paying to light empty spaces longer than necessary.
Tenant Experience: Lighting as a Selling Point
It is not just important to look out for your expenses, but for the well-being of your tenants.
Getting LED lighting is ideal as it provides better lighting compared to other options. If your self-storage business is open at night, you likely understand the importance of high quality lighting, for both you and your tenants.
It is best to provide sufficient lighting for your tenants as this will improve the overall safety and security of your complex, which can all be accomplished with LED lighting.
Other tenant-focused benefits include:
- Peace of mind about valuables. Since many individuals happen to store valuable items inside their storage units, LED lights are perfect as they do not cause damage or discoloration to surfaces or objects. Possessing this single quality is very enticing to potential tenants, simply because they will not have to worry about valuables becoming devalued while in storage.
- A more pleasant, modern environment. Tenants draw conclusions about your operation from what they see and feel on site. Bright, uniform LED lighting says “clean, secure, professionally managed.”
- Easier navigation and loading. Help tenants see better at nighttime so they can back trucks in, roll dollies, and sort belongings without frustration.
In short, lighting isn’t just a cost; it’s part of your marketing. Strong, well-designed LED lighting helps your facility stand out in a crowded market.
Tax Deductions, Rebates, and Incentives
In addition to monthly utility savings and lower maintenance, self-storage facilities can often stack financial incentives on top of an LED upgrade.
Additional cost savings may also be found through the use of assorted federal and state tax deductions.
For example, an owner’s lighting-related purchases may be eligible for substantial Section 179 and EPACT deductions.
Many utility companies also offer rebates and incentive programs that self-storage facility owners can utilize.
In Arizona, utilities like Tucson Electric Power, Arizona Public Service, and the Salt River Project have programs that reward energy-efficient lighting upgrades.
Relumination specializes in navigating rebates and incentives on your behalf, helping you:
- Identify which fixtures and controls qualify.
- Estimate total project ROI including incentives.
- Complete and submit rebate paperwork correctly and on time.
The result is a faster payback and an easier path to saying “yes” to a full LED conversion.
Relumination’s Role in Self-Storage LED Projects
Relumination is a company dedicated to delivering energy efficient warehouse and self-storage lighting services across commercial and industrial facilities—including self-storage. At Relumination, we help companies from many different industries, including self-storage, to:
- Reduce energy costs.
- Lower maintenance expenses.
Decrease their environmental footprint. - Improve their quality of light through energy-efficient lighting solutions.
For self-storage owners, that means we can:
- Assess your existing lighting, including safety, light levels, and camera visibility.
Identify maintenance and electricity savings opportunities and potential liabilities created by poor lighting. - Design a complete LED and controls solution: exterior wall packs, pole lights, interior corridor lighting, unit lighting, office lighting, and signage.
- Coordinate installations around your operating schedule to minimize tenant disruption.
- Help you leverage rebates, tax deductions, and incentives to improve project economics.
- Provide long-term support so your lighting continues to perform for years.
No company is too big or too small. Whether you operate a single facility or a regional portfolio, LED self-storage lighting should be part of your plan.
Conclusion: Make LED Self-Storage Lighting Part of Your Plan
Self-storage lighting is more than just “keeping the lights on.” It’s a core system that shapes your operating costs, tenant safety, security, and brand image.
The pattern is clear:
- Facilities that replace metal halide, high-pressure sodium, incandescent, and fluorescent lighting with LEDs routinely see 60–80% energy savings, with total savings up to 90% when combined with smart controls.
- LEDs provide bright, blue-white light that improves safety, visibility, and camera performance, closing the gaps left by dim orange high-pressure sodium lamps.
- Typical lifespans of 40,000–80,000 hours mean years of maintenance-free operation, especially important for 24/7 facilities with hard-to-reach fixtures.
- Tenants feel safer, see better, and trust your facility more, while your staff spends less time chasing outages and more time serving customers.
- Tax deductions and utility rebates can dramatically shorten payback and sweeten the business case.
Sometimes the things you do not think about can be the most significant. Lighting is one of them.
By making LED self-storage lighting a deliberate part of your operational and investment plan—and by partnering with a specialist like Relumination—you can cut costs, enhance safety, upgrade your facility’s image, and give tenants a better experience every time they visit.If you’re ready to go from dim and expensive to bright, efficient, and secure, contact Relumination for a free quote or self-storage lighting assessment and see how quickly a smarter lighting strategy can start paying you back.
