How Much Is A Storage Unit Compared To Other Storage Solutions?

In the UK, storage units can cost between £30 - £300 per month, depending on their size and location. Other storage solutions like shipping containers or storage by the box are more affordable, with costs starting from £3.56 per month.

Different factors can influence the price of storage units, including the location, unit size and rental period.

If you’re looking for the best value storage solution, check out storage by the box with The Box Co. With prices from £3.56 per box, this is one of the cheapest storage solutions. 

Rather than paying for an entire storage unit - even when it’s half empty - you just pay for exactly what you store. And, you only pay for as long as you store it, rather than being locked into a long-term contract. Contact The Box Co. today, and our team will happily help with your storage needs.

 

What are the Different Types of Storage Solutions?

The main types of storage are the following:

 

Self-Storage Units

The most traditional type of storage solution, a self-storage unit, means renting a unit to store your belongings.

You pay per size of the unit - the bigger the size, the more expensive. Prices can vary widely for self-storage units in the UK depending on location, size and the storage provider. Small units (under 50 sq ft) can cost around £93 per month, whereas larger units (around 100 sq ft) can cost upwards of £200 per month.

 

Shipping Containers

Renting a shipping container for storage can range from just a few hundred pounds to in excess of £1,500, depending on the size chosen. However, you can also rent smaller shipping containers for around £20 per week (20 sq ft x 8 sq ft). 

 

Storage By The Box

Choosing a specialist storage company can work out far cheaper. Rather than paying for a whole storage unit, you can pay for just the amount of storage you need. With The Box Co. you pay just £3.56 per month per box!

For example, if you only want to store 5 boxes, you will only pay for the size of those 5 boxes. Specialised storage solutions with companies like The Box Co. even offer door-to-door delivery. They’ll collect your boxes, store them, and bring them back to you as soon as you need them.

 

Removal Company Depositories

If you’re storing belongings between moves, you could contract storage with a removal company's depositories, but this can be an expensive option (around £50 per week, according to Hold Storage).

 

Factors Impacting the Cost of the Storage 

 

Various factors affect the cost of storage, including:

 

Location

Often big cities and business hotspots like London and Manchester will have higher priced storage solutions, just because of the location.

Inner city storage units are more convenient but usually much more expensive. Getting a storage unit far out of the city can work out cheaper but can be a pain to get to. 

 

Unit size 

Storage units are usually priced by square foot. The more square feet in the unit, the higher the cost. If you only want a small storage unit, it will cost less.

 

Rental period

Generally speaking, the longer amount of time you store your items, the higher the cost will be; however, some companies may offer discounts for long-term storage resulting in reduced storage costs.

 

How Much Do Storage Units in the UK Cost in 2025?

 

Data from CompareMyMove estimates an average weekly cost of £2 per sq ft in the UK with the following breakdowns for different sizes and rental periods.

 

What Alternatives are there to Storage Units?

 

Storage by the Box

Storage by the box is a popular alternative to renting a storage unit because you only pay for what you store, making it a much more affordable option.

These services tend to be priced evenly regardless of location and include collection and delivery too.

 

Rent from individuals

Peer-to-peer storage involves connecting with people who have space to spare (such as basements, garages or attics) with people who need storage. This can be a cheaper storage option but comes with higher risk as it is not a secure solution.

 

Ask friends or family 

You could also store objects in the homes of family or friends if it is on a temporary basis but this would depend on the relationship and for how long the stuff would be there. This solution has the potential to cause tension with loved ones.

 

Purchase extra storage space

From buying new wardrobes or bureaus or an extra designated space like a shed to a full-blown loft conversion to create extra space, there are ways of expanding storage solutions within the home. However, this can be an extremely expensive option.

 

Clear out your stuff

If you have more stuff than storage space it might be time to do a big clear out, donating or selling items that you no longer need.

 

What is the Cheapest Storage Solution? 

 

Storage by the box is the most flexible and cost-effective way of storing your items. Unlike traditional storage units, where you often pay for much more space than you need, this solution lets you pay for the number of boxes you store from just £3.56 per month. Simply pack your stuff up into boxes (prices are calculated by box size) and let the company do the rest. 

Your boxes will be stored safely and securely in a storage facility, picked up straight from your door and delivered right back to you whenever you need. There’ll be a fixed price regardless of location all across the UK with no extra charges for big cities.

With a storage-by-the-box solution there’s no wasted space and no extra costs.

 

Affordable Storage with, The Box Co.

 

At The Box Co., we offer flexible, affordable storage so that you only pay for what you store. We’ll collect your boxes straight from your door and get them back to you as soon as you need them. 

Your items will be stored securely in a monitored storage facility with 24/7 surveillance and an extra £100 of insurance per box as standard for extra peace of mind.

Whether you have 1 box or 10 boxes, you can store as many as you need - by-the-box - so that you never need to rent an entire unit and pay for space you’re not using. Get a quote today and see how affordable great storage can be.