How Much Is Storage Per Month In The UK?
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A storage unit in the UK costs roughly £68 to £274 a month for the most common sizes, based on the 2026 industry average with VAT included.
A typical 50 sq ft unit works out at around £137 a month, while 100 sq ft is around £274.
Here’s how that breaks down:
| Unit size | Roughly holds | Per month (ex VAT) | Per month (inc VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 sq ft | Boxes, bikes, suitcases and a few small pieces of furniture | £57 | £68.50 |
| 50 sq ft | The contents of a studio or one-bedroom flat | £114 | £137 |
| 75 sq ft | The contents of a two-bedroom flat | £171 | £205.50 |
| 100 sq ft | The contents of a two to three-bedroom home | £228 | £274 |
*We use calendar months throughout this guide. Some storage companies bill every four weeks instead, which means 13 payments a year rather than 12.
These figures use the SSA UK and Cushman & Wakefield 2026 industry average of £27.40 per sq ft per year, divided by 12 and with 20% VAT added. Storage has been subject to VAT since October 2012.
They are averages, though, rather than a price list. Where you live, the size of the unit and the company you choose can make a big difference. Bigger units also tend to cost less per square foot.
For comparison, Checkatrade's 2026 cost guide puts a typical 100 sq ft unit at around £190 a month.
If you already know you need a whole unit, The Box Co. also offers storage units. If you choose storage by the box instead, your items are collected from your address, so you don't have to arrange a van and take everything to a storage facility yourself.
How much is storage by the box per month?
Storage by the box with The Box Co. starts from £3.56 per box per month.
Instead of choosing a room based on how much space you think you'll need, you pay according to the number of boxes you're actually storing.
| Boxes stored | Monthly storage cost from |
|---|---|
| 5 boxes | £17.80 |
| 10 boxes | £35.60 |
| 15 boxes | £53.40 |
| 20 boxes | £71.20 |
The Box Co. collects your boxes from your home, stores them and can return individual boxes when you want them back. You don't have to hire a van or travel to a storage facility yourself. That's what storage without a van means in practice.
If you need boxes or tape before collection, you can also order packing materials when you book.
The £3.56 starting price is for a small box, with insurance cover of £100 per box. You can store from as little as one box.
There is a minimum storage period of one month. If you ask for your boxes back before the month is up, a £50 early return fee applies on top of the return delivery charge.
The Box Co. currently offers up to 40% off when you store for three months or more, with the discount depending on the length of storage you choose.
Return delivery is charged separately and you'll normally need to give at least two full working days' notice. The exact return price is confirmed when you book the return.
Is a storage unit or storage by the box cheaper?
It depends on how much you're storing.
Using the UK industry average, a 25 sq ft unit works out at about £68.50 a month including VAT. That's roughly the same monthly storage cost as 19 small boxes with The Box Co.
If you're only storing five or ten boxes, paying for an entire room may leave you paying for space you don't use. If you're storing most of the contents of a house, the maths can swing the other way.
The monthly storage price isn't the only cost to compare, either.
With a traditional unit, you need to get everything there and back. If you don't have transport, that could mean hiring a van or paying a removal company. You may also need to pay separately for contents cover, a padlock or a deposit.
Storage by the box will usually suit you better if:
- You're mainly storing boxes, suitcases and smaller items
- You don't need regular access to everything
- You don't have a car or van
- You'd rather have individual boxes returned than visit a storage unit
A traditional storage unit may make more sense if:
- You're storing most of the contents of a home
- You need regular access, perhaps for stock or tools
- You already have suitable transport
- You want to be able to visit your things yourself
The cheapest option on paper isn't always the cheapest once you've added everything else in, so compare the full cost rather than just the advertised weekly or monthly price.
How much storage space do you need?
Choosing a unit that's bigger than you need can quickly push up the monthly cost.
Before getting a quote, make a list of what you're actually storing. If you're looking at traditional self-storage and aren't sure what will fit, The Box Co.'s storage calculator can help you work out the space you need.
A few boxes, suitcases and seasonal items
If you're clearing out a spare room, storing Christmas decorations or putting away clothes and camping equipment for part of the year, you may not need a storage unit at all.
Ten small boxes with The Box Co., for example, start from £35.60 a month for storage, while 15 start from £53.40.
A studio or one-bedroom flat
Around 50 sq ft is commonly suggested for the contents of a studio or one-bedroom flat.
At the 2026 SSA industry average, 50 sq ft works out at around £137 a month including VAT.
If you're moving between rentals, it's also worth thinking about how long you'll actually need the space. A few weeks between tenancies is very different from storing everything for six months. See how storage between rentals works.
How much does it cost to store a three-bedroom house?
For a three-bedroom house, expect to pay roughly £190 to £400+ a month, depending on how much you're storing, where you live and the provider you choose.
The range is wide because storage companies don't all recommend the same amount of space.
Checkatrade suggests around 100 sq ft and estimates a monthly cost of about £190.
Pickfords suggests 100 sq ft for a two to three-bedroom home, while other size guides recommend more space for a full three-bedroom property.
As a rough guide, plan on somewhere between 100 and 150 sq ft.
At the SSA's average price per square foot, 150 sq ft would come to about £411 a month including VAT, although bigger units often work out cheaper per square foot than that calculation suggests.
If you're storing a whole house, you're probably moving too. The Box Co. can move your things and store them, which means you don't have to arrange a removal company and storage separately. If you're budgeting for the whole move, our guide to the average cost of moving house covers the other costs worth allowing for.
How much does furniture storage cost per month?
Furniture storage depends more on how much space your furniture takes up than how much it weighs.
A sofa, double bed, dining table and chairs can quickly fill a smaller unit, particularly if pieces can't be taken apart or stacked.
As a rough comparison, 50 sq ft costs around £137 a month including VAT using the 2026 industry average.
Renovations are one of the times furniture storage can be useful. If you're replacing flooring, knocking through rooms or having a new kitchen fitted, moving bigger pieces out temporarily can give builders more room and protect furniture from dust or damage.
See how storage during renovations works, or read more about furniture storage with The Box Co.
There isn't one set price for furniture storage with The Box Co., because it depends on what you're storing. Tell us which pieces need collecting and we'll give you a price.
Storage prices around the UK
Where you live can make a big difference to what you pay.
London is the most expensive part of the UK for self-storage, with average cost of £42.39 per sq ft per year, compared with a UK average of £27.40.
Using those regional averages, here's roughly what different unit sizes cost per calendar month once VAT is added:
| Region | Per sq ft/year (ex VAT) | 25 sq ft/month | 50 sq ft/month | 75 sq ft/month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London | £42.39 | £106 | £212 | £318 |
| South East | £28.24 | £71 | £141 | £212 |
| UK average | £27.40 | £68.50 | £137 | £205.50 |
| East of England | £25.96 | £65 | £130 | £195 |
| South West | £23.30 | £58 | £117 | £175 |
| Scotland | £22.74 | £57 | £114 | £171 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | £22.43 | £56 | £112 | £168 |
| North | £21.65 | £54 | £108 | £162 |
| East Midlands | £21.35 | £53 | £107 | £160 |
| West Midlands and Wales | £20.57 | £51 | £103 | £154 |
These are regional averages from the SSA UK 2026 report, converted into calendar months with 20% VAT added. An individual storage company may charge more or less.
Storage by the box works differently because you're paying for the boxes rather than the amount of floor space you rent. The Box Co.'s advertised starting price is £3.56 per small box per month across the areas it covers.
For example, you can see current information on storage in London.
What extra storage costs should you look out for?
Two storage quotes can look almost identical until you work out what you're actually going to pay.
Before booking, check for these costs:
Four-weekly billing: Some companies bill every four weeks rather than every calendar month. That means 13 payments a year, not 12. £60 every four weeks is £780 a year, equivalent to £65 per calendar month.
Weekly prices: A month isn't exactly four weeks. It's closer to 4.33, so £18 a week is roughly £78 a calendar month rather than £72.
VAT: Storage is subject to VAT, but some industry prices and averages are quoted before VAT. Check whether the figure you're comparing includes it.
Introductory offers: Half-price opening offers can make the first few weeks cheap. Look at what you'll pay once the offer ends as well.
Contents protection: Some self-storage companies require you to arrange cover. Big Yellow's Enhanced Liability Service, for example, currently starts from £6.25 a week for £4,000 of protection.
Deposits and padlocks: Depending on the company, you may need to pay a refundable deposit or buy a suitable lock.
Transport: If you're using a traditional unit, work out how you're getting everything there and back. Two van hires can quickly change which quote is actually cheaper.
With The Box Co., complimentary cover of £100 per box is included. Collection charges are shown when you book, while return delivery is charged separately at the rate applying when you request your return.
How long will you need storage for?
Finally, don't just look at the monthly price. Think about how many months you're likely to be paying it.
Most people need storage for one of a handful of reasons:
Your moving dates don't line up: You might leave one property on Friday but not get the keys to the next until Monday, or even the following month.
You're renovating: Building work has a habit of running over, so it can be worth allowing a little extra time.
You're a student between tenancies: Leaving in June and returning in September creates an obvious gap.
You're going abroad for a while: Six months or a year away is where long-term storage may make sense, while a few weeks may be better suited to short-term storage.
With The Box Co., the minimum storage period is one month. After your initial storage period, additional storage is charged on a rolling monthly basis.
You can also ask for individual boxes to be returned while leaving the others in storage, rather than having everything brought back at once. Return charges apply, and returns normally need to be requested at least two full working days in advance.
Not sure whether boxes or a unit will cost you less? Tell us roughly what you need to store and for how long, and we'll help you compare your options.
FAQs about storage costs
How much does a storage unit cost per month in the UK?
A storage unit in the UK costs around £68.50 a month for 25 sq ft, £137 for 50 sq ft, £205.50 for 75 sq ft and £274 for 100 sq ft, based on the 2026 UK industry average with VAT added. Your actual price will depend on where you live, the provider you choose and any introductory offers.
How much does storage cost for a three-bedroom house?
Storing the contents of a three-bedroom house will usually cost around £190 to £400+ a month. You may need roughly 100 to 150 sq ft, although this depends on how much furniture you have and how efficiently everything can be packed.
How much is storage in London per month?
London is the most expensive region in the UK for self-storage. Based on 2026 industry figures, a 25 sq ft unit works out at around £106 a month, 50 sq ft around £212 and 75 sq ft around £318, including VAT.
Is storage by the box cheaper than a storage unit?
It can be if you only have a small amount to store. The Box Co. starts from £3.56 per small box per month, while an average 25 sq ft storage unit works out at around £68.50 a month including VAT. If you're storing most of a home's contents, a traditional unit may work out cheaper.
What is the cheapest way to store things?
For a few boxes, suitcases or seasonal items, storage by the box can work out cheaper because you're only paying for what you store. For bigger amounts, compare the full cost of a storage unit, including VAT, transport, contents cover, deposits and any price increase after an introductory offer ends.
