Storage costs in the UK — monthly, yearly and per sq ft

Commercial self-storage rates in the UK (London benchmark, May 2026)

The table below reflects typical London commercial-facility rates in May 2026 — illustrative composites across the major UK operators (Big Yellow, Safestore, Shurgard, Lok'n Store). Outside London, commercial rates run 30–40% lower across the same size bands.

Sources: published rate cards from major UK self-storage operators, May 2026 sample.

Peer-to-peer storage rates on Packhood (UK, May 2026)

Packhood is the UK's peer-to-peer storage marketplace — hosts list unused garages, spare rooms, attics, basements and sheds at monthly rates. Below are the typical national ranges across the live UK listing base.

Sources: live Packhood UK listings, May 2026 sample. Renters pay a 12% Packhood service fee on top; hosts receive 95% of the listed amount.

Monthly storage cost in the UK

The single most-asked question — "how much is a storage unit per month in the UK?" — has three answers, depending on size:

• Small (10–25 sq ft): £75–£195/mo commercial · £25–£95/mo on Packhood. Suits documents, suitcases, seasonal kit.
• Medium (50 sq ft): £215–£320/mo commercial · £70–£195/mo on Packhood. Fits a 1-bed flat's overflow or a small business inventory.
• Large (100–200 sq ft): £360–£920/mo commercial · £105–£270/mo on Packhood. Equivalent to a typical garage or spare room — enough for a 2–3 bed home.

See live UK monthly storage prices for London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Cardiff or Brighton.

Storage cost per square foot in the UK

Square-foot rates fall as size rises. Typical May 2026 rates in the UK:

• 10 sq ft: £7.50–£11.00 per sq ft / month commercial London · £2.50–£7.80 on Packhood.
• 25 sq ft: £5.20–£7.80 commercial London · £2.20–£3.80 peer-to-peer.
• 50 sq ft: £4.30–£6.40 commercial London · £1.80–£3.60 peer-to-peer.
• 100 sq ft+: £3.20–£4.60 commercial London · £1.10–£2.40 peer-to-peer.

The Packhood per-sq-ft rate is consistently 50–60% lower at every size band, because the floor space already exists in someone's home.

Yearly UK storage unit cost

Annual cost is monthly × 12 — but watch promotional rates that step up after the first 8 weeks. A "£99/mo" introductory rate at Big Yellow / Safestore often lands at £160–£195/mo by month 3. Packhood listings are flat-rate from day one.

• 25 sq ft for 12 months: £1,560–£2,340 commercial London · £480–£1,140 peer-to-peer (before long-stay discount).
• 50 sq ft for 12 months: £2,580–£3,840 commercial London · £840–£2,340 peer-to-peer.
• 100 sq ft for 12 months: £4,320–£6,480 commercial London · £1,260–£3,240 peer-to-peer.

House contents storage cost in the UK

A common need — moving house, renovating, going abroad. The price depends on home size:

• 1-bed flat (≈14 m³ / 50 sq ft): £215–£320/mo commercial London · £70–£195/mo on Packhood.
• 2-bed home (≈28 m³ / 100 sq ft): £360–£540/mo commercial London · £105–£270/mo on Packhood.
• 3-bed home (≈55 m³ / 200 sq ft): £640–£920/mo commercial London · £230–£390/mo combined peer-to-peer (two stacked listings).
• 4-bed home (≈80 m³+): £960–£1,400/mo commercial London · £320–£580/mo combined peer-to-peer.

Student & summer storage cost in the UK

Student summer storage is the cheapest cluster on the UK market. Typical 2026 rates near major UK campuses:

• Hosted box room or attic on Packhood (London — UCL, Imperial, KCL, LSE, QMUL): £55–£135/mo.
• Outside London (Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff): £35–£100/mo.
• Commercial UK student-storage packages (Big Yellow Student, Safestore Student): £80–£180/mo plus collection fees.

For the campus-by-campus breakdown — UCL, Imperial, KCL, LSE, QMUL, Oxford, Cambridge, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff — see the Student storage in the UK guide.

FAQ