What is the true cost of a self-storage unit? Moving house can be an incredible hassle at the best of times, and trying to find space for all your belongings can be an added headache on top of a growing mountain of problems.
Self-storage is a simple and flexible option to store your belongings that you can use whenever you need them. There are several variables to consider when choosing a self-storage facility, including location, convenience, facilities, and, most crucially, pricing. The cost of self-storage is well-known for influencing customer decisions, but do you know how much you should be paying?
Factors to consider when choosing self-storage
The cost of a storage unit will depend on a number of factors.
How much you want to store
The size of the unit you choose will be based on how much you want to store. Different sizes of storage units will be available for rent at storage facilities, ranging from small lockers to enormous warehouse-style rooms. Typically, these areas are priced by the square foot (Sq. ft), with the larger the unit, the lower the price per square foot.
If you’re storing a few boxes and some clothing items, a small locker will likely suffice. Larger lockers may include features like climate control or security cameras. If you’re planning on storing large items like furniture or appliances, you may want to consider renting a larger space that can accommodate those items.
How long you want to use the self-storage facility
The price of a self-storage unit is determined by a number of factors. The size of the unit and its location are important, but some of the other considerations include:
Length of stay – If you’re planning on storing items for a short time, then the cost will be lower. However, if you want to keep your belongings for several months or years, then you’ll need to pay more. This is because storage facilities charge more for extended stays.
Security – The security level of a storage facility is also an essential factor when determining the price. Some facilities offer 24/7 monitoring and armed guards while others only have an electronic gate system with limited hours of operation.
Special features – Some storage facilities offer additional services such as packing material, boxes and other supplies at an additional cost per month. Others provide climate control for temperature-sensitive items like musical instruments or antiques that must be kept at a specific temperature to prevent damage from heat or cold damage over time.
The location of you and the self-storage facility
Location is also a factor that will determine the cost of self-storage. Facilities in popular or city-centre locations, like apartments, flats and homes, are often more expensive than those in less-populated or built-up places, simply owing to demand. Similarly, self-storage prices in the South, particularly in London, are frequently higher than those in the Midlands or the North.
Location is essential to a self-storage unit as and should ideally be somewhere highly accessible particularly with a car. If you do not own a car then large scale town storage units may not be the way to go for you. Location can also significantly affect the cost of self-storage.
If you live in a big city, you’re undoubtedly constrained by the amount of room you have. Living in the city means you may not always have access to a parking place, and the expense of hiring one can be too expensive. That is why we see tens of thousands of people using self-storage to store large, valuable objects in cities.
Amenities
Not all storage facilities are created alike, and while some do provide additional conveniences and frills, they usually come at a cost. Things like climate-controlled storage, video surveillance and vehicle storage can really increase the quality of a storage unit.
Here are some of the amenities you may find at your local self-storage facility:
Climate control. Most self-storage facilities offer climate-controlled units. If you’re storing sensitive items such as antiques or electronics that could be ruined by extreme temperatures, this is probably a good option for you. But if you’re just storing boxes of old clothes and books that don’t need extra protection against temperature fluctuations, there’s no reason to pay extra for climate control.
Video surveillance. Some facilities have cameras installed throughout their properties so they can monitor who comes in and out of their facilities at all times. These cameras can also deter theft because anyone who tries to break in will be on camera before they get too far into the property. These types of security cameras can also make it easier for police to track down criminals who may have left evidence behind during an attempted burglary or robbery at one of your local self-storage locations.
Vehicle storage is another great feature to look for when shopping around for a self-storage unit. If you need space for extra vehicles or boats during the off season, vehicle storage can help you store them safely until they are needed again.
The average cost of self-storage
Below you can see a graph indicating the average cost of self-storage across the county. This does not factor in the various additions and amenities costs that can come with hiring out storage.
| Average Storage Prices | 50 Square Feet | 75 Square Feet | 100 Square Feet | 150 Square Feet | 200 Square Feet |
| 1 Week | £23.02 | £34.53 | £46.04 | £69.06 | £92.08 |
| 1 Month | £99.75 | £149.63 | £199.50 | £299.25 | £399.00 |
| 2 Months | £199.50 | £299.25 | £399.00 | £598.50 | £798.00 |
| 3 Months | £299.25 | £448.88 | £598.50 | £897.75 | £1197.00 |
| 6 Months | £598.50 | £897.75 | £1197.00 | £1795.50 | £2394.00 |
| 1 Year | £1197.00 | £1795.50 | £2394.00 | £3591.00 | £4788.00 |
Our self-storage service
When moving home, it might be the case that you need some storage for a while, whilst you get yourself settled down. Or maybe you’ve had to leave your house and stay elsewhere for a week or so whilst your new home contract is being finalised. Now We’re Moving offers self-storage in Bath and its surrounding areas at affordable prices.
We have a wide range of different storage sizes ranging from 30 SQ Ft to 200 SQ FT, meaning you only pay for the space and room that you need. You can easily switch storage units if you later decide you need less room.
| 30 SQ FT UNIT (135 cu ft) | 50 SQ FT UNIT (450 cu ft) | 75 SQ FT UNIT (675 cu ft) | 100 SQ FT UNIT (900 cu ft) | 115 SQ FT UNIT (1035 cu ft) |
| £13 | £30 | £38 | £49 | £56 |
| Prices are per week + VAT | Prices are per week + VAT | Prices are per week + VAT | 100sq ft unit is large enough for the contents of a small house, Prices are per week + VAT | Prices are per week + VAT |
