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    Self-Storage Costs Explained: UK Pricing Guide

    By The reallymoving Team Updated 26th Jun, 2024

    Reviewed by Emily Smith

    Using self-storage can be helpful for getting unnecessary items out of your way when moving, or even long term. But it is important to make sure you have an idea of what it will cost you before deciding to use it.

    Self-Storage Costs Explained: UK Pricing Guide

    When might I need self-storage?

    When you move house, you may find that you have too much stuff to move from place to place.
     
    This is when self-storage companies can come in handy. They provide a unit for you to store any items you don’t need come moving day, or for the long term.

    This could be particularly helpful if you need to move into rented accommodation whilst waiting for your purchase to come through. Using storage when moving can also reduce the stress of moving day as you can stagger moving your belongings over time.
     
    You may also use storage for dealing with items you might not have room for in your new home (tools when you don’t have a garden shed yet, or a set of collector’s items). This is particularly important when downsizing.

    How much does self-storage cost?

    With many things when moving house, it’s important to consider affordability and keep an eye on your budget. Knowing how much self-storage will cost you ahead of time can help. Unfortunately, there is not one set price, as your storage quote will depend on a multitude of factors.

    Consider these cost factors before deciding how you will make use of self-storage:

    Length of time

    The cost of your storage will greatly rely on how long you actually want to be using the storage unit for.
     
    For example, the price for a week in a 20 square foot unit is commonly between £10-35, whereas a month in the same unit can cost around £50-75. Using self-storage for a year can take you over £1,000.

    Consider in advance when it comes to how long you’re keeping your items stored. Do you just need them out of the way for moving day, or do you need space in your home for a longer period of time?
     
    You should make sure to budget depending on the time you think you’ll need.

    Size of unit

    As you may have also guessed, the size of the unit you use is also a key factor in the price you will be paying for your storage.
     
    Unit sizes can range from 10 square feet up to 200 square feet, depending on the size of the facility you use. As you’d expect, the price will increase along with the size of unit.

    A month in a 50 sq. ft. unit can commonly cost around £50-85 whereas the same length of time in a 100 sq. ft. unit can be more like £90-150.

    This is why it’s best to do an inventory of what’s in your home and highlight what you would ideally like to move to self-storage. Take a look at all these items and consider what the minimum amount of space you’ll need is, then use this to estimate your cost.

    Make sure to actually measure your items and create an inventory. It's incredibly easy to underestimate in the hopes of cutting costs. But you don’t want to damage your items by trying to cram them into a space that isn’t workable.
     
    It's always helpful to have a big clear out before deciding how much space you’ll need in self-storage. There’s no point in paying to store items you don’t need anymore!

    Location

    It may or may not surprise you that the location of the facility itself within the UK will influence pricing. Not just whether it’s in a built up or rural area, but also whether it’s in the North or South, or whether it’s in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, or Wales.

    The most expensive place to use self-storage is unsurprisingly Central London, with the whole of the south of England being generally more expensive than the North.

    While it’s difficult to manipulate this cost yourself, outside of moving to a cheaper area, it is important to be aware of it. If you’re moving within London for example, you need to prepare for much steeper prices when budgeting.

    If you are planning to use the storage facility for a while and don’t need access to it, (if you’re in a chain, waiting to move for a few months) you could try using a storage facility further away to save money. Just remember to account for the cost of transporting the items there and back.

    Level of security

    The level of security at your self-storage facility can also impact the cost. It’s always important to check the security that is offered by facilities that you are thinking of using.

    If you have important or expensive items, you might want to opt for a storage facility that has a higher level of security. However, the increased security is likely to come with a higher price tag.

    Insurance

    While it’s in the storage facility’s interests to keep your belongings as safe and secure as possible, theft and damage aren’t 100% avoidable - accidents do happen.
     
    Therefore, most UK self-storage companies will require that you take out an insurance policy out to cover the items you are leaving with them.

    Some companies will offer you their own insurance, but in some cases, you can provide your own from outside sources if you’d prefer, as long as you can prove you have it.
     
    The monthly cost of your insurance will be based on what it would cost to replace the items of they were stolen or damaged. This means, if you would like to have lower cost insurance, you will want to avoid storing anything overly expensive in the facility.

    Special offers

    If it’s sounding by now that self-storage might turn into quite the expensive endeavour for you, there is a silver lining. Most UK self-storage companies offer various discounts and special offers, for meeting certain conditions, that can bring down the average quoted price.

    Some companies will, for example, offer you a cheaper rate for paying for the term you wish to stay for upfront, rather than in instalments or at the end of your stay. Other firms may offer you cheaper rates for being a new customer or offer to match rates of a competitor if you can find storage cheaper elsewhere.

    When choosing a self-storage facility, make sure to research thoroughly to see what discounts and special offers they may have in place. The price may not change too significantly, but when moving, every little save does help.
     

    Additional costs to consider

    When using self-storage, it’s important to budget for any additional costs that may not be included in the quote you are given from storage facilities.

    These additional costs may include:
    • Some facilities require a security deposit

    • Transportation of belongings to and from the storage facility

    • Padlocks and packing materials

    • Any admin fees

    Different storage options

    If you decide that self-storage might not be the right option for you, there are other types of storage that you might consider instead.

    These include:
    • Containerised storage

    • Mobile self-storage

    • Shipping container storage

    As always, the key is research. Investigating any local storage facilities, comparing cost as well as deals and quality of service, will help you make an informed decision about using self-storage.

    Self-storage costs FAQs

    Is paying for storage worth it?

    Depending on your situation, self-storage can help reduce the stress on moving day and can provide somewhere safe and secure to keep items that you are not able to move on the big day.

    It will also depend on how long you need to store your belongings, but it can be incredibly useful for downsizing and renovating.

    Comparing and researching before choosing a storage facility can get you the best deal for your needs.

    What is considered long-term storage?

    Long-term storage is anything that is kept in storage for more than 3 months. Short-term storage is only available up until 3 months.

    What time of year are storage units cheapest? 

    Usually, storage facilities will go up in price when there’s more demand. Therefore, in slow seasons such as winter you might be able to find better deals due to the decrease in demand.
     

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