When do you need storage as part of a move?
Storage is not always part of a move, but it comes up regularly and for a variety of reasons. The three most common situations we see are clients who are downsizing and need time to sort through belongings before deciding what to keep, clients going through a chain break where their sale completes before their purchase is ready, and clients clearing a property ahead of renovation works.
In each case the approach is the same. We assess your volume, advise on the right unit size, point you towards the best current deal, and handle the physical move in and out of storage.
The scenarios below give a sense of how storage typically fits into the moving process.
Downsizing and decluttering
Moving to a smaller property is one of the most common reasons clients use storage alongside a removal. When you are moving from a four bedroom to a two bedroom house, not everything will fit in the new home from day one. Storage gives you the breathing room to move in comfortably, settle into the new space, and make considered decisions about what to keep, donate, sell, or dispose of, without having to do all of that on moving day itself.
This kind of storage need is typically short to medium term, a few weeks to a few months, while you work through what you want to keep. Getting the unit size right matters here because you may be accessing it regularly to retrieve or remove items, so ease of access and a sensible layout inside the unit are worth thinking about from the start.
Chain breaks and completion gaps
A chain break is one of the most stressful situations in a London move. Your sale completes, you have to vacate, but your purchase is not ready. You need somewhere for your belongings to go, sometimes at very short notice.
In these situations, speed and flexibility matter more than finding the lowest possible monthly rate. Both of our preferred storage providers offer no minimum stay contracts, which means you are not locked in if the gap turns out to be shorter than expected. We help clients moving through a chain break identify the nearest available facility with current capacity, assess the volume quickly, and load efficiently so the transition from property to storage is as smooth as possible.
If you are in a chain and there is any possibility of a gap between your sale and purchase completing, it is worth having a storage plan in place before you need it rather than arranging it in a hurry.
House renovation clearance
When building works are underway, a live property is not a safe or practical place to keep furniture, soft furnishings, electronics, or anything fragile. Dust, debris, and the movement of contractors through the space creates real risk of damage, even with protective sheeting in place.
We regularly help clients clear all or most of a property ahead of a full refurbishment, kitchen or bathroom refit, loft conversion, or structural works. The volume involved is often significant, particularly if loft, garage, and garden storage is also being cleared, and works in London frequently overrun, so it pays to choose a contract with flexibility built in.
For renovation clearances, we pay particular attention to unit size accuracy at the assessment stage. Underestimating means a second unit at short notice and a second delivery charge at the end. We would rather spend an extra ten minutes getting the size right at the start.
What size storage unit do you need?
Getting the unit size right is the most important practical decision in the whole process. Here is a straightforward guide to the most common unit sizes and what fits in them.
Common unit sizes and what fits
25 sq ft, roughly the size of a large wardrobe, is suitable for the contents of a small room, boxes, a few pieces of flat pack furniture, and kitchen items.
50 sq ft is suitable for a one bedroom flat with minimal furniture, or a two bedroom flat if you are storing boxes only.
75 to 100 sq ft is suitable for a large one bedroom or two bedroom home. It fits furniture, appliances, and a good volume of boxes if loaded efficiently.
150 sq ft and above is suitable for large family homes, full office clearances, or long term storage of bulky items like sofas, dining tables, and wardrobes.
These are approximate figures. The real answer depends on how your items are packed and how well the unit is loaded, something our team can advise on directly once we have assessed your volume.
Physical unit quality, what to check before you book
Ceiling height is the detail most people overlook, but it is not the only one worth checking before committing to a unit.
Ceiling height
Many facilities offer units measuring between 2.10 and 2.20 metres. Our preferred storage partners offer units with ceiling heights of 2.5 to 2.7 metres in most of their facilities. That extra height makes a meaningful difference to how efficiently a unit can be loaded, and often means you can fit the same volume into a smaller and therefore cheaper unit.
Unit shape and internal obstructions
Not every unit is a clean rectangle. Some facilities, particularly older or converted buildings, have units with pillars, structural supports, ducting, or sloped ceilings that eat into the usable floor space. A unit advertised as 75 sq ft on paper may deliver considerably less practical storage space if a pillar sits in the middle of it or a beam runs across the ceiling at head height.
This matters most if you are storing bulky furniture, wardrobes, sofas, or large appliances. Irregular shaped units can work well for boxes and smaller items that stack and fit around obstructions, but they are poor value for bulky items that need clear floor and ceiling space to load efficiently.
If you find a unit that looks like good value, it is worth viewing it in person or asking the facility directly whether the footprint is a clear rectangle before booking. A bargain rate on a compromised unit is rarely the saving it appears to be.
How to get the best deal on storage in London
Both of the providers we work with most regularly, Shurgard and Big Yellow, run promotional rates for new customers that can reduce your first month costs significantly. Shurgard typically offers a £1 first month deal with no minimum stay, which works well for shorter needs. Big Yellow typically offers a percentage off for the first couple of months, which suits slightly longer stays.
Both offers apply to new customers only, so we always recommend booking the unit in your own name rather than through us. You access the promotional rate, you hold the contract directly, and you stay in control of when you extend or vacate.
Location makes a bigger difference than most people expect
London storage pricing follows the same logic as London property. The closer to Zone 1, the higher the cost. A unit in Chelsea or Islington can cost two to three times more per month than an equivalent unit in Hayes, Uxbridge, or outer East London.
Both Shurgard and Big Yellow have branches across London and the surrounding area. When we are advising a client, we do not automatically look for the closest facility. We look at where the best current offer is and whether the saving justifies a slightly longer drive on collection and delivery day.
In practice, choosing an outer London facility over a central one can halve the monthly cost. If you are storing for two or three months, that difference adds up quickly, and the extra mileage on the van is a one off cost that is usually well worth paying.
Our approach to storage advice
We do not operate our own storage facilities. What we do is help you make a well informed decision on size, provider, and location, and then handle the physical side of getting your belongings there and back safely.
When storage is part of your move, the process works like this.
- We assess your volume as part of the pre move survey.
- We advise on the unit size that makes sense for what you have.
- We check current offers at Shurgard and Big Yellow across relevant locations.
- You book the unit in your own name to access any new customer promotions.
- We load your unit efficiently on move day and deliver everything back when you are ready.
If your move involves storage, mention it when you request your free quote and we will factor it into the planning from the start. You can also call us on 0800 080 7476 and we will talk it through.
For more moving advice, see our home removals service, professional packing service, and parking suspension guide.
Frequently asked questions about storage in London
How do I know what size storage unit I need?
The best way is to have your volume assessed before you book. As part of our moving service, we assess your belongings during the pre move survey and advise on the unit size that makes sense for what you have. Guessing without an assessment often leads to booking too small, which means cramming items in and risking damage, or too large, which means paying for empty space every month.
How much does storage in London cost per month?
It varies significantly depending on location, unit size, and timing. A small 25 sq ft unit in outer London can cost as little as £50 to £80 per month, while a large 150 sq ft unit at a central London facility can run to several hundred pounds. The biggest variable is location.
Units in outer London boroughs like Hayes, Uxbridge, or outer East London can cost half the price of equivalent units closer to Zone 1. We help clients find the best current rate rather than defaulting to the nearest facility.
Should I book the storage unit myself or can you do it for me?
We strongly recommend booking in your own name. Both Shurgard and Big Yellow reserve their promotional rates for new customers, and those offers will not apply if we book under our company name. By booking yourself, you access the full new customer discount, you hold the contract directly, and you can extend or vacate on your own schedule. We handle everything else, assessing your volume, advising on the right unit, loading efficiently on move day, and delivering back when you are ready.
Can you store my belongings while my home is being renovated?
Yes, this is one of the most common storage scenarios we handle. Whether you need to clear one room or an entire house ahead of building works, we assess your volume, advise on unit size, help you identify the best current deal, and manage the physical move in and out of storage. For renovation jobs we pay particular attention to unit size accuracy, since works frequently overrun and you may end up storing for longer than originally planned.
How long can I keep items in storage?
There is no fixed limit with either Shurgard or Big Yellow. Both offer flexible contracts with no mandatory minimum stay beyond the initial promotional period. Short stays of a few weeks are as straightforward as longer stays of a year or more. For renovation projects in particular, we recommend building some flexibility into your timeline given how often completion dates shift.
Will my belongings be safe in storage?
Both Shurgard and Big Yellow operate secured facilities with CCTV, individual unit locks, and controlled access. Our preference for these two providers is partly based on their security standards and the quality of their units, clean, dry, with good ceiling heights, compared to some smaller independent operators where unit condition can be more variable. For high value or fragile items, we also recommend appropriate packing before storage, which our team can handle as part of the service.
Shurgard vs Big Yellow comparison
Both are well managed, reputable facilities with good security and clean units.
Shurgard regularly offers a £1 first month deal with no minimum stay, suited to shorter storage needs.
Big Yellow typically offers 50% off for two months, which suits slightly longer stays.
We check current offers at both when advising clients as the best deal shifts depending on timing and location.
Does the location of the storage facility affect the price much?
Significantly, yes. London storage pricing follows the same logic as London property. The closer to the centre, the higher the cost. In some cases, choosing a facility in an outer London location rather than a central one can reduce the monthly cost by more than half. For clients storing a full household for six months or more, that saving is substantial. Sometimes it makes clear financial sense to drive a few extra miles on collection and delivery day in exchange for a much lower monthly rate over the storage period.
What happens when I am ready to move back in or into my new home?
We collect your belongings from the storage facility, transport everything to your address, and deliver items into the rooms where you need them. Furniture reassembly is included if required. We recommend booking the return move as early as you can confirm your date. Availability fills up, and for renovation move backs in particular, having a provisional date in place gives you flexibility if the works finish earlier or later than expected.
