How to get the most out of self-storage

If you're running out of storage options at home, or bursting at the seams because of your growing business, you may have thought about self-storage or even dipped your toe in already.

Although our survey research revealed that just 5% of respondents had used it in the past two years*, the UK self-storage industry has tripled in size since 2005 – and it's set to get bigger.

Finding storage that fits your needs isn't always straightforward, so read on to find out more, from how much self-storage costs and what size unit you need, to whether you can use a unit to run your business from.

Running out of storage space? Check out these clever storage ideas for your growing family 

How much does self-storage cost?

This depends on a range of factors including the size of the storage unit, how long you want it for (short-term use may cost more than long-term) and what facilities you're after, as well as how competitive the market is where you're looking.

The Self Storage Association UK (SSAUK) Annual Industry Report 2024 showed that, in 2023, the average cost of renting a self storage unit ranged from £20.34 per square foot in the West Midlands and Wales to as high as £38.80 per square foot in London. The next most expensive areas were the South East (£28.03) and the East of England (£26.47).

However, there isn't a centralised place that enables you to compare like with like – it's a case of going online to see what's near you and either using an estimator tool to work out costs per square foot or contacting facilities directly for a quote.

One of the only providers we looked at – Shurguard – indicated prices on its website, giving starting prices for various storage unit sizes (weekly and monthly prices), although prices can differ depending on location.

What size unit will I need?

Unit sizes range from as small as a 3 square foot locker up to a footprint of 5,000 sq ft or more, although the average unit size is roughly 80 sq ft.

Descriptions may be given online as to what you can fit into a unit, but these aren't standardised across different companies. For example, Shurgard says a 50 sq ft unit can store the contents of a studio flat, whereas Safestore says it's ideal for a large one-bedroom flat. 

We suggest you use any descriptions for reference only. The best option may be to visit in person to take a look at different unit sizes or use an online space estimator where possible. Here are some examples of storage companies that have them:

Self-storage space estimators

• Access You'll find a tool with a slider that helps you easily see how different sized lockers and units look and compare. The tool also fills the space with furniture and possessions for reference. 
• Big Yellow Storage The storage unit size estimator gives examples of what you might be able to fit into different sizes of unit. You need to enter further details to get a price.
• easyStorage You can start adding items on the space calculator to estimate 'pod' size or choose from a list of presets including a four-bedroom property.
• Safestore Online information includes photos, video guides and walkthroughs to help you compare sizes and know roughly how much you'll be able to fit in.
• Shurgard The size calculator allows you to choose a room type and select items from a list (including storage boxes, sofas, fridges and beds). From this information, it tells you the square footage of storage you need.

Types of storage units

Storage by-the-box (box storage)

Belongings are collected, securely stored then delivered back at a later date (ideal for students needing holiday storage). To give you some idea of costs, storage of a small box with Lovespace is around £9.65 per month but can soon ramp up when you find more to store – for example, storing two small boxes and a suitcase for one month with Lovespace is around £42, rising to around £225 if you've got 25 sq ft of belongings.

Internal self-storage

Storage is in a secure building that you can visit to access your belongings, and units range in size from around 10 sq ft up to around 500 sq ft. Other types of internal storage units include locker storage (around 3 sq ft) for small volumes of possessions, or climate-controlled storage for items that could be damaged by humidity or temperature changes, such as books, collectibles or even wine (Big Yellow Storage and Hold are two companies with climate-controlled self-storage facilities for wine).

External self-storage

This includes container storage and, as the name suggests, tends to be outside which means you can drive right up to it. Ideal for larger or heavier items, such as machinery, or even vehicles including motorbikes or quad bikes. It's also an option if you're storing high volumes of goods for your business. External units can be cheaper than internal self-storage spaces because they don't tend to be heated or ventilated.

Vehicle storage

Some facilities are outside on fenced and gated compounds. For example, Access can store your vehicle for seven days upwards. Others will store your vehicle inside, away from the elements, under the watchful eye of security staff. This hotel-like environment for your vehicle doesn't come cheap though – Windrush Car Storage in London charges £195 plus VAT per week, for example.

Are you making the most of your outdoor storage? Read our guide on how to buy the best garden storage

Self-storage for business

Storage can be invaluable for businesses needing to warehouse stock or to store equipment and archive materials, such as tax documents, during a move or for longer periods of time.

'Around a third of the space is taken up by commercial customers,' says SSAUK CEO Rennie Schafer, 'often small and online businesses who use self0storage to store product and records.'

Can you run a business out of a self-storage unit?

Whether it's your side hustle or an established business, if you're an online seller, tradesperson or contractor, or work in events, you could be joining an army of people who actually use self-storage for work or even run their business out of it.

'Twenty per cent of business customers run their business primarily from their self-storage unit and don't have any other physical presence,' says Rennie Schafer.

From storing stock and equipment to packing and fulfilling orders, you can do this in your unit, with advantages including not having to pay business rates or sign a lease. You also have the ability to scale up or scale down when needed, plus some storage companies offer inventory management to help fulfil orders from your customers.

Can you work from a self-storage unit?

While you can run a business out of a self-storage unit, you can't actually work from one as if it's your office – and you may be kicked out for attempting to do so.

This is for insurance reasons, but also because most units don't have essentials needed for an office, such as natural light (or the correct lighting), enough electrical sockets or provision for getting online.

You can't register your unit as your office or official business location, however you can still have deliveries sent there and can store furniture and equipment there to free up space in your actual office.

That said, some self-storage companies also rent out unfurnished office spaces, which means you and your employees can work there while your stock and equipment is stored nearby.

Setting up your own business? Read the Which? Trusted Traders guide to everything you need to set up as self-employed

What can I use self-storage for?

You can store almost anything you'd keep in your own home and in all kinds of situations – from storage during a property renovation or if you're an Airbnb host, to storage if you're off travelling or running out of space for hobby or sports equipment.

However, there are also rules about what you can't store – primarily for the safety and security of all customers and their goods.

What can't I store in a self-storage unit?

• Illegal or illicit goods such as counterfeit/smuggled tobacco or alcohol, or anything unlicensed or unsafe. 
• Combustible or flammable substances (for example, gas, paint, petrol, oil, cleaning solvents or compressed gases).
• Chemicals, asbestos or other potentially hazardous substances.
• Firearms, explosives, weapons or ammunition.
• Food or perishable goods unless securely packed so they are protected from and don't attract vermin.
• Cash or valuable works of art (unless agreed by the storage company in advance).

Things to consider when you're looking for self-storage

• Will they collect as well as store? There are some companies that will do this – for example, JamVans (a Which? Trusted Trader), offers a 'self-store to your door' service where it brings a wooden 'Jam Storage Pod' to you, loads your belongings onto it then takes it to a depot where you can access it at any time. London-based Hold Self Storage gives you the use of a Zipcar for free to help you move your things. 
• Are they open 24 hours a day and, if not, do the hours work for you? Look at the opening times, including weekend times as these may differ from those during the working week. It may also be possible to pay to have extended hours access, but this tends to be discretionary, based on customer need and is generally a chargeable cost (for example, Big Yellow Storage charges £10 every four weeks or £5 for a one-off service).
• What's the security like? It's worth finding out if there is 24-hour recorded CCTV coverage, regular security checks, intruder alarms and a smart-entry system such as Noke. 
• How accessible is it? This may be particularly important if you have additional needs, such as mobility issues, so find out if you can drive a car right up to the facility and whether you can have ground-floor storage that you won't need to get to by navigating a heavy trolley down long corridors. Not only that, but is it somewhere you feel safe going to, especially if it's open through the night or is in a potentially remote place such as an industrial estate.

Storage insurance

Although you're not legally required to insure your belongings while they're in storage, the storage provider has the right to refuse your business if you don't, says the SSAUK. 

You might find they offer you their insurance as you're signing the contract, but there are other options which may turn out to be far more economical.

Research carried out by insurance specialist Surewise in 2023 found that customers who buy insurance through their self-storage firm are routinely overpaying to the tune of around three times more than they could get elsewhere.

Check your home insurance first as some policies offer some temporary protection while your possessions are in storage, such as cover for up to seven days in transit between homes when you move or as 'alternative accommodation cover' if your home becomes uninhabitable from fire or flooding.

When you are shopping around for a self-storage provider, it's worth asking companies about their insurance, including costs, and to verify their requirements if you want to use your own.

If they insist that you have to use their insurance, they're in contravention of the Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates insurance in the UK.

Who offers storage insurance? 

Various FCA-regulated insurance companies offer storage insurance as a specialist policy, including:

• Insurastore.com
• Merthyr Self Storage
• Store and Insure
• Surewise

Best home insurance – we surveyed nearly 1,700 home insurance customers and 33 companies to discover the best home insurance companies and policies in the UK

How to get the most out of self-storage

• Contact storage facilities directly. That way you can have direct conversations about availability (including when there may be an opportunity to upsize or downsize) and arrange to visit to check unit sizes for yourself. You can also find out if there's any wiggle room on price (don't forget to ask if there are special discounts for NHS, military, emergency services employees or teachers, if applicable).
• Look at facilities out of your area. Your nearest storage facility might seem good value, but one that's a bit further away could turn out to be cheaper – especially if it's slightly out of the urban sprawl. You'll need to weigh up the costs and convenience, especially if you don't have a car or you know you'll be accessing your storage on a regular basis.
• Ask to move to a smaller storage. You may find you need less storage over time, so ask to downsize so you're not wasting money. Shifting stuff sounds like hard work, but storage facilities have trolleys you can use, plus ask if there's an adjacent unit or at least one on the same floor to make the process easier. Some companies will assist you if you ask.
• Pay regular visits to your unit. Check your belongings are in as good a condition as you left them and not being damaged by an unexpected leak, damp or an infestation, such as moths or mice from a neighbouring unit. The SSAUK recommends you do this once a month if possible.

Avoid these self-storage traps

• Don't pay for time you don't need. This means keeping an eye on when your renewal date is (you can easily end up paying for an additional month you don't need) and understanding what kind of notice you need to give. Although you can go and clear your things out on the day you choose, if you haven't notified a company that you no longer need the facility, you may end up paying an additional month if your moving date is close to the billing date. 
• Don't leave it to the last minute. Storage needs can arise unexpectedly, but if you know you'll need one in advance, book as soon as you can to get the unit size you're after. This will prevent you having to possibly upsize to a bigger unit you don't need. Some units have short booking windows (for example, only 14 days before), while others, including Access Self Storage, allow you to book as far in advance as you need. 
• Don't buy boxes and packaging from the storage facility. You'll find they are generally way more expensive than if you buy them elsewhere – for example, on Amazon. Another (planet-friendly) option is to look on local free marketplaces to see if someone is passing on their used boxes and packaging material. Don't forget you'll need a heavy-duty padlock, too, which you can also buy elsewhere.
• Don't overpack your storage unit. Tempting though it is to squeeze everything in, leave space, such as a path through the boxes, so you can access all areas without having to haul everything out. Also, while it makes good financial sense to use the vertical space, too (some units are around 10ft tall), you don't want to pile things so high that they're in danger of toppling over.

Considering a home extension to create more space? Get advice from a builder and an architect on where to start with a home extension

Popular self-storage companies

With more than 2,700 self-storage stores in the UK, there are plenty to choose from. Here are some of the most popular ones and what they offer.

• Access Self Storage Around 135 UK locations, with sizes from 10 sq ft to 500 sq ft, and accessible seven days a week. Introductory offers of 50% off for up to eight weeks, plus price matching within a 1.5 mile radius. Storage types include self-storage, locker, warehouse, vehicle and business.
• Big Yellow Storage Around 109 UK stores, with sizes from 9 sq ft to 400 sq ft (600ft for business use). Introductory offer of 50% off for up to eight weeks. Storage types include self-storage, external lockups, warehouse, business, archiving, wine and student storage, plus flexi office space.
• easyStorage Around 1,000 UK locations, offering storage services that also include collection and return. Introductory offer of 50% off first 12 weeks on selected storage units, plus a free switching service to collect and store items from your current storage provider. Mobile self-storage service consists of an easyPod (sizes from 35 sq ft to 105 sq ft) being delivered to you to fill before being collected and stored. Storage types include business, container and student
• Safestore Around 136 UK locations, with unit sizes from 10 sq ft to 500+ sq ft. Introductory offer of 50% off first eight weeks and lowest price guarantee (will beat lowest local comparable quote by 10% for first eight weeks), plus long-term discounts for those staying more than a year. Storage types include self storage, external drive-up units, business, commercial, stock, tool, document and archive, and lock-up garages.
• Shurguard Around 88 UK locations, with sizes ranging from 10 sq ft to 300 sq ft. Some selected units are £1 for the first months rent for new customers and up to 50% off every month. Self storage contracts are completely flexible – just inform Shurguard 15 days before moving out. Storage types include self-storage, business (such as archive, stock and equipment) and student.

*Online survey of 15,220 members of the Which? Connect panel conducted in July 2024