Moving house in Ireland is stressful enough without a three-week gap between your old home and your new one. Whether you're waiting on a closing date, renovating the new place before moving in, or just need to declutter before a viewing, storage is often the quiet hero of a smooth house move.

This guide covers everything you need to know about storage during a move in Ireland — timelines, costs, packing, and how to avoid the classic mistakes that turn a house move into a nightmare.

When Do You Actually Need Storage During a Move?

A few scenarios come up again and again:

  • Closing date mismatch. You've sold your current home, but the new one won't be ready for 2–4 weeks. You need somewhere to park your belongings.
  • Renovations before move-in. You're redoing floors, repainting, or ripping out a kitchen. Moving furniture in is either impossible or asking for damage.
  • Downsizing. You're moving to a smaller place and need time to decide what goes to the new home, what to sell, and what to store long-term.
  • Staging for sale. Estate agents increasingly recommend decluttering before viewings. An empty, airy home photographs and shows better — and sells faster.
  • Temporary rental. You're in a furnished rental between homes and don't need (or can't fit) your own furniture.

How Much Storage Do You Need During a Move?

A rough rule of thumb for Irish homes:

  • 1-bed apartment: 10–15 m³ — roughly a single garage.
  • 2-bed house or apartment: 20–25 m³ — a large garage or a standard 5m x 3m storage unit.
  • 3-bed semi: 30–40 m³ — a large double garage or a 5m x 5m unit.
  • 4-bed detached: 45–60 m³ — typically needs a large unit or two spaces.

These assume you're storing most major furniture and boxes, but not appliances (which usually go directly to the new home) and not your car.

What Does Moving Storage Cost in Ireland?

For a typical 3-bed semi needing 1–2 months of storage:

  • Commercial self-storage (Dublin): €240–€400/month, plus a setup fee and insurance. You're typically looking at €600–€900 for 2 months.
  • Removal company storage: €220–€380/month. Often quoted as part of a "move and store" package. Convenient, but rarely the cheapest.
  • Peer-to-peer (Packhood): €120–€200/month for equivalent space in a host's garage or outbuilding. €240–€400 for 2 months — a saving of several hundred euro.

For a one-month gap, the peer-to-peer option often comes in at under €200 total — less than a night in a Dublin hotel.

Ground Access Matters More Than You Think

When you're choosing a storage option during a move, access is a massive factor. A unit on the third floor of a commercial facility with a shared lift is a nightmare for a removals team — every trip takes three times as long, and removal companies charge by the hour.

Ground-floor access with a wide door (garage, outbuilding, large shed) can cut your removals bill by €100–€300 compared to a multi-storey facility. When you browse Packhood spaces, filter for "drive-up access" and "ground floor" — most hosts tick both.

The 4-Week Move + Storage Timeline

Here's a tidy plan for a typical move with a 2–4 week storage gap:

  1. 4 weeks before: Declutter aggressively. Sell, donate, or bin anything you won't miss. Smaller move = cheaper move. Book your removals company and your storage space.
  2. 2 weeks before: Start packing off-season and rarely-used items. Label every box by room destination AND contents.
  3. 1 week before: Confirm arrival times with both the removals team and your storage host. Sort your documents (passports, leases, insurance) into a "do not store" box.
  4. Moving day: Do one final walkthrough. Photograph meter readings. Hand over keys.
  5. Storage period: Keep your inventory list handy in case you need to retrieve something.
  6. Move-in day at new home: Unload in the reverse order — boxes first, then furniture.

Packing Tips That Actually Save You Money

  • Don't over-pack boxes. More, smaller boxes is faster to load and unload than a few impossibly heavy ones.
  • Disassemble large furniture. Bed frames, wardrobes, desks — take them apart and wrap the hardware in a labelled bag taped to the frame.
  • Protect upholstery. Old bedsheets, sofa covers, or cheap plastic covers prevent scratches and dust. A mattress bag for €6 saves your mattress.
  • Skip pricey "moving boxes" for half your stuff. Luggage, laundry baskets, and reusable shopping bags hold a surprising amount.
  • Keep a "first night" box. Kettle, mugs, tea, toilet paper, phone chargers, clean bedding. Do not store this one.

Insurance and Peace of Mind

Commercial facilities usually require (and sell) insurance. Peer-to-peer platforms handle this differently: Packhood's Host Guarantee covers most damage during a booking, and renters can add their own contents insurance for added peace of mind. Many Irish home insurance policies also cover items in temporary storage — worth checking before you pay for a separate policy.

The Bottom Line

Storage during a house move doesn't have to be a giant line-item on your moving budget. With a bit of planning, the right space, and a ruthless pre-move declutter, you can comfortably bridge a gap of weeks or months without overspending.

Find affordable storage near your new home on Packhood and make your next move a smooth one.