How much does self-storage cost? Information and prices updated for 2024

Note* – Post updated and corrected for 2024

When selecting where to store your belongings there are many things to consider- location, security, convenience, and size to name a few. One of the most crucial considerations, however, is often price. When you’re using self-storage for long periods of time, it makes sense to shop around for the best price before filtering your options in-line with your other requirements.

We’ve broken down the costs of self-storage to help you make an informed decision.

Self Storage Prices Page Summary:

Jump to the section below to find the information you are looking for:

Self Storage price per sq. ft.

This differs depending on unit size, but for an average 50 sq. ft. unit you will pay around £140pcm, which breaks down to a sq. ft. rate of £2.80. The bigger the unit, the smaller the cost per square foot!

And if you’re wondering what is included in the price, here’s what you would get if you were storing with Titan Storage;

  • 24/7 controlled access to your unit – they’re your belongings, so you can visit them whenever you please!
  • Use of trollies to transport your things safely
  • A covered loading bay in case it’s a rainy day when you move in
  • Your own personal keypad code, which allows you secure access to the building
  • Ample parking
  • Free tea and coffee, and vending machines in some stores

Other self-storage facilities with alternate companies will offer similar, but possibly not all, of the services mentioned above. Research is crucial to find out exactly what it is that you want offered, and what you do or don’t need from your facility.

self storage corridor

Prices of storage units

Below we have presented some average prices of storage units in three key areas in the UK. We have included prices for a store situated in the North of England, a store situated in the South of England, and a store which is situated in London.  As you may be aware, self-storage prices are commonly less expensive in the Northern areas of the UK and more expensive around the London area.

Estimate cost of self-storage in the North – Updated for 2024

Self storage prices for the North may often be lower than certain parts of London or the South East, dependent on the location of the unit.

Northern Store 50 sq. ft. 75 sq. ft. 100 sq. ft. 150 sq. ft. 200 sq. ft.
1 week £33.07 £44.56 £54.66 £76.25 £98.76
Full Monthly Price £144.00 £194.00 £238.00 £332.00 £430.00
1 month £72.00 £97.00 £119.00 £166.00 £215.00
2 months  £144.00 £194.00 £238.00 £332.00 £430.00
3 months £288.00 £388.00 £476.00 £664.00 £860.00
6 months £720.00 £970.00 £1,190.00 £1,660.00 £2,150.00
6 months paid up front £777.60 £1,047.60 £1,285.20 £1,792.80 £2,322.00
12 months £1,584.00 £2,134.00 £2,618.00 £3,652.00 £4,730.00
12 months paid up front £1,468.80 £1,978.80 £2,427.60 £3,386.40 £4,386.00

Estimate cost of self-storage in the South – Updated for 2024

Check the self storage prices in the South region. The prices in the South can be higher than in certain parts of London or the North.

Southern Store 50 sq. ft. 75 sq. ft. 100 sq. ft. 150 sq. ft. 200 sq. ft.
1 week 40.42 53.74 64.77 89.11 123.56
Full Monthly Price 176.00 234.00 282.00 388.00 538.00
1 month 88.00 117.00 141.00 194.00 269.00
2 months  176.00 234.00 282.00 388.00 538.00
3 months 352.00 468.00 564.00 776.00 1,076.00
6 months 880.00 1,170.00 1,410.00 1,940.00 2,690.00
6 months paid up front 950.40 1,263.60 1,522.80 2,095.20 2,905.20
12 months 1,936.00 2,574.00 3,102.00 4,268.00 5,918.00
12 months paid up front 1,795.20 2,386.80 2,876.40 3,957.60 5,487.60

Estimate cost of self storage in central London – Updated for 2024

Find all the information about our competitive self storage prices in London in the table below.

Central London Store 10 sq. ft 20 sq.ft 30 sq.ft 40 sq.ft 50 sq.ft
1 week £29.40 £49.61 £52.36 £75.79 £90.03
Full Monthly Price £128.00 £216.00 £228.00 £330.00 £392.00
1 month £64.00 £108.00 £114.00 £165.00 £196.00
2 months  £128.00 £216.00 £228.00 £330.00 £392.00
3 months £256.00 £432.00 £456.00 £660.00 £784.00
6 months £640.00 £1,080.00 £1,140.00 £1,650.00 £1,960.00
6 months paid up front £691.20 £1,166.40 £1,231.20 £1,782.00 £2,116.80
12 months £1,408.00 £2,376.00 £2,508.00 £3,630.00 £4,312.00
12 months paid up front £1,305.60 £2,203.20 £2,325.60 £3,366.00 £3,998.40

Estimate cost of self storage in Wales – Updated for 2024

Find all the information about our competitive self storage prices in Wales in the table below.

Wales 50 sq. ft. 75 sq. ft. 100 sq. ft. 150 sq. ft. 200 sq. ft.
1 week £28.02 £39.04 £47.77 £65.68 £80.38
Full Monthly Price £122.00 £170.00 £208.00 £286.00 £350.00
1 month £61.00 £85.00 £104.00 £143.00 £175.00
2 months £122.00 £170.00 £208.00 £286.00 £350.00
3 months £244.00 £340.00 £416.00 £572.00 £700.00
6 months £610.00 £850.00 £1,040.00 £1,430.00 £1,750.00
6 months paid up front £658.80 £918.00 £1,123.20 £1,544.40 £1,890.00
12 months £1,342.00 £1,870.00 £2,288.00 £3,146.00 £3,850.00
12 months paid up front £1,244.40 £1,734.00 £2,121.60 £2,917.20 £3,570.00

*Note – storage prices are based on estimates from Titan Self Storage branches, prices quoted are for reference purposes only, obtain a quote to get an accurate storage cost for your needs.

Cardboard box storage hacks

Self-storage special offers and deals

When you’re looking for a self-storage unit, it can often be quite tempting to accept one of the many special offers that facilities provide to entice customers. However, be careful to not get misled by the different phrasings that facilities use.

One very common offer is 50% off for the first two months that you store with a facility. This can also be translated into 50% off for the first 8 weeks you store, or even stating that you’ll get one month free. When these three offers are placed beside one another, at first glance it may seem they’re offering different things, due to the different phrasings that they use.

Calculating prices using weeks or months can also be confusing when you’re trying to compare how much a self-storage unit would cost at different facilities. If a company presents a price in months, and a competitor presents it in weeks, you may find yourself needing to do some addition to work out the exact amounts – don’t just assume they’re for the same time period.

Long-term self-storage offers

The longer you store, the bigger your potential savings. If self-storage is a long term option for you or your business it would be advisable to ask about longer term contracts and payment options. The below is the same storage unit in the same location one is paid for monthly whilst the other has received a discount for paying 12 months upfront. Paying upfront isn’t always feasible, but it definitely has it’s benefits.

Paying monthly for 12 months

50% off for the first 2 months

Annual Storage Cost: £1540

Annual Insurance Cost: £102 (based on minimum £2k cover)

TOTAL: £1642*

Paying upfront for 12 months

15% off each month

Annual Storage Cost: £1285.20

Annual Insurance Cost: £102 (based on minimum £2k cover)

TOTAL: £1387.20*

* Please note, this price does not include the £12.00 lock charge, or the compulsory half-month security deposit, as required from all customers.

Price vs quality

It can be tempting to opt for the cheapest quote when selecting self-storage, but this isn’t necessarily the best way to choose a home for your prized possessions. Selecting the right provider for your storage ensures that your specific needs are met. Things to consider are;

  • The people – are there friendly, knowledgeable and helpful people on hand to help you make the right decisions for you?
  • Location – Inner city storage vs outer city
    • How far are you willing to travel?
    • Is the storage site easy to get to when you need to go (I.e. rush hour / peak times)?
    • How do storage prices differ between locations?
  • Unit size – do they offer units that meet your requirements?
    • If you need help deciding which size storage unit you would need, depending on how much you need to store, our blog can help with handy size equations to rooms in a house!
    • Can you fit everything into your storage unit with organisation? If you need help organising your unit to make the best use of your space, check out another of our blogs.
  • Flexibility – can you move up or down a unit size easily if you need to?
  • Parking – is there on-site parking, or room for a van?
  • Climate control – do they provide this?
  • Access – is it limited or is it 24/7 access?
  • Security – is there CCTV, and other measures to ensure the safety of your stuff?
  • Rental period – how long do you need your unit for and is there a minimum rental period?

storage containers / shipping containers

Furniture self-storage costs

One self-storage option that many storage facilities offer is furniture storage. While this may not be the first thing you think of, it can be very useful when you’ve downsized, bought a new item of furniture, inherited some furniture from a relative, or are moving into a new home.

If you don’t have the space for the furniture in your own home, a storage unit can be a great option since it provides a designated space to keep your items safe, secure and clean until you either find a place for them or decide to hand them on to someone else.

Furniture storage costs exactly the same as if you were storing anything else. Depending on the size of the item/s of furniture that you’re storing, you’ll need to work out which storage unit size would suit you best.

How much does it cost to store furniture?

For example, a 75sqft storage space would be able to contain roughly the contents of a one or two bedroom flat, or even a small two-bedroom house. This would include 40 boxes of personal belongings, along with a number of different furniture items, such as a dining table and chairs, a two or three-seater sofa, double beds, wardrobes, chest of drawers, and all kitchen white goods.

The storage cost of furniture storage for a month in this unit, according to the above tables, would come to about £78.32. For long term storage costs, a unit of this size would come to an average of £1,722.88 for the year.

Cost of storage for house contents

When you’re looking to move home storage can be an ideal short term option for you. It allows you to move out of your current home and into your new home without the fuss of arranging moving van services to co-inside with your contract exchange.

People often ask how much it would cost to store the contents of their home. We’ve broken this down below to give you a better understanding of the size of storage unit you’ll need as well as the associated costs involved. These are approximates based on the average amount of furniture a home has per room.

Storage costs 2 bedroom house

For a 2 bedroom house you’ll usually be looking at between 100 sq.ft and 125 sq.ft of storage space needed.

1 week 1 month 2 month 3 month*
£45.00 £100.00 £190.00 £620.00

Storage costs 3 bedroom house

For a 3 bedroom house you’ll usually be looking at between 125 sq.ft and 150 sq.ft of storage space needed.

1 week 1 month 2 month 3 month*
£70.00 £135.00 £300.00 £620.00

Storage costs 4 bedroom house

For a 4 bedroom house you’ll usually be looking at between 150 sq.ft and 175 sq.ft of storage space needed.

1 week 1 month 2 month 3 month*
£75.00 £150.00 £315.00 £620.00

Note* – Most storage facilities have an introductory offer which lasts between 4-8 weeks (some occurrences this could be longer or shorter). We’ve based our costs above on a 8 week introductory offer). We also haven’t included Central London costs within this table.

Alternatives to self-storage

There are alternatives to self-storage that can be considered when you’re looking into a suitable place to store your belongings.

Container storage

Container storage is an option which allows you to store your items in a secure unit that is portable, meaning that you can store it in a location that you have access to.

The questions that need to be asked about this method of self-storage are simple: are you happy with your items being stored in a container which could be stored outdoors? Does a container offer the same security or enough security for what you are storing? Also, the areas that containers are normally stored in aren’t always the most secure locations.

If you’d like more information on this subject, check out our self-storage vs portable storage blog.

Self-storage collection

Another alternate option for self-storage is a self-storage collection service which provides boxes for you to fill with your items and then collects them and stores them in a unit for you. The service also provides retrieval and collection deliveries so that you can request items to be brought back to you and stored.

However, there are some disadvantages to this method of self-storage. Since this is a collection service, the items you store can often be stored far away from you in their facilities which means that you won’t have instant access to your items when you need them. As well as that, there could be damage caused to your items during transport since the transporters aren’t aware of what is in the boxes you have given them. Finally, whenever you do want something retrieved from storage and brought to you, there is a fee – if you’re having things collected and then retrieved often, that cost will rack up quite considerably.

Attic storage

Attic storage is a somewhat simpler option whilst being a free and quick alternative to a storage facility, provided your attic is large enough to fill with the items you’re looking to store. Realistically, you would use your attic to store a few items you don’t want in your way or to potentially create your attic space into another room. For more information about the advantages and disadvantages of attic storage, we would recommend checking out our attic storage vs self-storage blog.

Garage storage

Similar to using an attic as storage, a garage would perhaps be a better alternative to self-storage. Instead of reaching and moving items to a space above you, a garage would be a lot more efficient and less time-consuming. But again, whilst it is a great alternative, you would have to consider the fact of potentially moving what’s already in your garage, and how much space your garage offers if you store your car, bike or outdoors equipment already. We have created a blog which covers all the information needed on garage storage vs self-storage, containing the benefits of garage storage.

How to compare storage facilities, Is it all about price?

When looking for a self storage facility price seems to be an overarching factor to be considered. We would also advise looking out for the following as they aren’t always offered:

Location

Make sure you are happy with the location of your chosen self storage facility. There is nothing worse than going out of your way to reach your storage location or it being difficult for your to park / unload, which brings us onto the next consideration.

Parking

Mostly assumed due to most self storage facilities being located out of town, or on bigger industrial estates, look out for the mention of parking onsite as well as how big the car park is. There’s nothing worse than turning up on a Saturday and not being able to find a space.

24/7 access

You might not be looking to visit your self storage unit at all hours of the day, but make sure the access hours work for you and your needs.

Loading Bays & Trolleys

You’ll be grateful when you get to your facility and find a loading bay with trolleys provided. Make sure you ask before moving in if these are available and where they are stored, they definitely help with the loading and unloading process.

Kitchens & Toilet Facilities

Not required by most, but a nice to have. You never know how long you’ll be at your storage facility. The ability to make a cup of tea or coffee is always a welcome break.

Other storage costs to consider

Moving Costs

Some of the biggest things about moving items are the size and heaviness, how fragile items can potentially be and more importantly, the number of items. Investing in a removal company could prove to be a wise decision, making the process of moving items a lot easier. If you’re looking to hire a removal company, we would recommend reading our practical guide for hiring a removals firm which provides all the necessary information needed when making a decision if a removal company is the right option for you.

Packaging Material – Self Storage Box Prices

Call your storage company to see if they offer packaging supplies. Many of them do and cost wise, it might be easier and more convenient to buy directly from them.

Amazon currently offer 10 Extra Large Cardboard Storage Boxes for £24.99.

Also consider costs of tape, bubble wrap and other materials needed. Where possible use household items such as clothing, bedsheets etc to minimise these costs.

Insurance

Insuring your belongings is a must – after all, they’re insured in your home or when you’re on holidays, so keep them insured when they’re in storage too.  At Titan Storage, for example, insurance starts from as low as £13.00 per month for £2000 cover and you can decide on the level of cover you’d prefer when you book. Other storage facilities will also offer insurance so make sure you look into the levels of cover that will be available and what is included in the price of insurance.

Locks

Depending on the storage facility you are storing with, you may need to research into what kind of locks the units use, and whether you will need to purchase a padlock or lock for your unit. For example, the Titan Storage Littlehampton and Bracknell stores use and sell traditional padlocks, whereas all other stores use barrel locks, which slot into the door catch to secure the door.

Deposit

The general rule of thumb among storage facilities is that the deposit is equal to around half a month’s rent. There are some stores and companies who are starting an initiative which provides storage without a deposit to remove the barriers to renting a unit. Whether you pay a deposit or not depends on the store that you choose.

We hope this has been a helpful insight into just how much self-storage units cost, and will allow you to make an informed decision when you’re next looking to store some of your belongings.

Storage Costs Recap

To recap the page, here are the most frequently asked questions about storage prices.

How much does self storage cost?

The latest figures in the 2019 SSAUK industry report found that the UK average net rental rate is £23.11 per square foot per annum. London has a higher rental rate of £27.66 per square foot with Scotland, North England and Wales having the cheapest rental rates at under £18.00 per square foot per year.

Why do storage prices differ store to store?

There are a number of factors involved. The main differences are geo-graphical location and onsite facilities. You’re going to pay a premium for being in the center of a town or city, in most cases you also pay for what you get, storage facilities will cost more than storage containers for example. When comparing storage unit prices make sure you’re not just looking at price, but also convenience, how modern the facility is, can i park my car, do i feel safe going there.

Will storage facilities match the price if I find a cheaper self storage quote?

In most cases the answer is yes, there will be a number of factors involved including getting a like for like quote. Storage price should not be the only factor considered, always look at the facilities on offer, reviews from current customers as well as location, convenience etc.

What is included in the price for self storage?

Storage costs often include the facilities on offers. This might include, 24/7 access and security, covered loading bays, car parks, kitchen & washroom, post handling services. Normally insurance and padlocks aren’t included within the storage price, so look out for this to ensure your fully aware of all the costs involved.

Will I be quoted the same price if I choose to go into a store?

Yes, the online quote is often the same as the in-store quote.

I’ve decided what size I need but how much will it cost?

We have rough estimates of storage costs listed above. A true quote will always be your best point of call. We would recommend either filling out the online quote form, or calling your local storage facility.