Moving tips
How much does self storage cost in the UK? (2026 prices by unit size)
Storage is quoted by the week, paid by the month and compared by the unit — which makes it harder to price than it should be. Here is what self storage costs in 2026, what moves it, and how to get the number down.
The short answer
| Unit size | Fits roughly | Per week (2026) | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 sq ft | A few boxes and a bike — a large cupboard | £12–£20 | £50–£85 |
| 50 sq ft | A studio or one-bed flat | £18–£30 | £80–£130 |
| 100 sq ft | A two- or three-bed home | £32–£55 | £140–£240 |
| 150 sq ft and up | A four-bed home, or a business's stock | £50–£90 | £215–£390 |
Those are typical UK ranges outside London. In London and the South East add roughly a third; in a city-centre facility with 24-hour access, more again. Containerised storage — a sealed wooden container in a warehouse that you cannot drop in on — usually sits at or below the bottom of each range, because the operator is not paying for corridors, lifts and lighting you can walk through.
What moves the price
- Location. The single biggest factor. A unit on an industrial estate outside town costs a fraction of the same unit in a converted city-centre building.
- Size — and buying one size up. A 50 sq ft unit holds roughly a one-bedroom flat. Facilities will show you the units before you commit; moving down a size later means moving everything twice.
- Access hours. "24/7 access", "24/7 gate access" and staffed hours are three different offers at three different prices. Pay for the one you will use.
- Climate control. Worth it for documents, electronics, upholstery and anything wooden; a premium you do not need for boxes of books.
- Duration. Most operators discount a prepaid three or twelve months, and many run an introductory rate for the first few weeks that then rises — ask what the standard rate is before the offer ends.
- Insurance. Most facilities require your contents to be insured and sell a policy at the counter. Your home insurer may extend cover to goods in storage for less.
- VAT. Quotes are sometimes shown without it. Compare on the same basis.
How much space do you need?
- Studio / 1-bed: about 25–50 sq ft
- 2-bed home: about 50–75 sq ft
- 3-bed home: about 100 sq ft
- 4+ bed home: 150–200 sq ft
- A business's archive or stock: measure the pallets, then add a walkway
Facilities will size a unit for you, and they know their stock; the useful check is to ask whether the unit they suggest leaves room to reach the box at the back.
Self storage or containerised?
Self storage means a room you hold the key to and visit when you like. Containerised means your things are loaded into a sealed container, stacked in a warehouse, and brought down when you give notice — usually a day or two, sometimes with a handling charge. Containerised is normally cheaper per week and suits a chain delay or a gap between homes; self storage suits anything you will need to get at along the way. Removals firms often store as well as move, so one company can collect, hold and redeliver on the same job.
How to pay less
- Get quotes from facilities outside the centre as well as in it. The drive is usually worth it for anything you will visit rarely.
- Ask for the standard rate, not the introductory one, and for the prepaid three- and twelve-month prices.
- Do not overbuy. Take the facility's sizing advice and look at the unit before signing.
- Check your home insurance before buying the counter policy.
- If you will not need access, price containerised storage too.
- Compare on the same basis: same size, same access, VAT included, insurance shown separately.
Questions people ask
How much does self storage cost per month in the UK?
As a rule of thumb in 2026, about £80–£130 a month for a 50 sq ft unit outside London and roughly a third more in London; a 100 sq ft unit runs about £140–£240 a month. Quotes are usually weekly, so multiply by 4.33 to compare with a monthly figure.
What is the cheapest way to store furniture?
Containerised storage at an out-of-town depot, prepaid for the term, is usually the cheapest per week — provided you will not need to get at anything. If you are between homes, ask the removals firm to store as well as move; one collection, one redelivery, one bill.
Is insurance included in self storage prices?
Usually not. Most facilities require contents to be insured and sell a policy at the counter for a few pounds a week. Your home insurer may extend cover to goods in storage for less — ask before you buy theirs.
Do self storage prices go up after the first few weeks?
Often. Introductory offers — half price for the first eight weeks and the like — are common, and the standard rate afterwards is the one you will actually be paying. Ask for it in writing before you sign.
How big a unit do I need for a 3-bed house?
About 100 sq ft, packed sensibly. Facilities will show you the unit; the check is whether you can still reach the back once it is full. If not, go up a size or plan the packing so the things you might need are at the front.
Can I get a discount for storing long term?
Usually. Most operators discount a prepaid three or twelve months, and some drop the rate after a set period on a rolling contract. Ask for both prices — rolling and prepaid — and compare them with your honest guess at how long you will need it.
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