storage - head to head
Safestore vs Shurgard
Both makes turn up on the same shortlists, and the honest answer is that they are built for different buyers rather than one being better than the other. Here is what actually separates them - from a directory that sells neither.
| Safestore | Shurgard | |
|---|---|---|
| Built in | United Kingdom | Belgium (opened its first centre in Brussels in 1995); operates in the UK as Shurgard UK |
| Making trailers since | 1998 | 1995 |
| UK availability | Widely available - large UK network | Good UK dealer coverage |
| Range covers | Personal storage, Business storage, Student storage, Life event storage | Personal storage, Business storage, Moving boxes, Storage consultation and sizing help |
| Best known for | Personal storage | Personal storage |
Choose Safestore if...
Safestore describes itself as the UK's largest self-storage group by store count, with a heavy concentration inside the M25. It is used across the same personal-and-business mix as its main rivals, and also trades in several other European countries.
Look at: Personal storage, Business storage, Student storage
Full Safestore profile →Choose Shurgard if...
Shurgard is a pan-European self-storage operator with a sizeable UK network, aimed at the same mix of personal and business storage customers as its listed UK rivals. Its 2024 acquisition of Lok'nStore makes it one of the larger groups by combined UK site count.
Look at: Personal storage, Business storage
Full Shurgard profile →Where to hire or buy either
Most UK storage companies carry several makes and advertise none of them, so the practical move is to find the firms covering your area and ask what is on the yard.
Safestore vs Shurgard - common questions
Is Safestore better than Shurgard?
Neither is better outright - they are built for different buyers. Safestore describes itself as the UK's largest self-storage group by store count, with a heavy concentration inside the M25. It is used across the same personal-and-business mix as its main rivals, and also trades in several other European countries. Shurgard is a pan-European self-storage operator with a sizeable UK network, aimed at the same mix of personal and business storage customers as its listed UK rivals. Its 2024 acquisition of Lok'nStore makes it one of the larger groups by combined UK site count.
Which is easier to get hold of in the UK, Safestore or Shurgard?
Safestore: 139 stores across the UK, including 54 within the M25, per its own website in 2026. Shurgard: 92 self-storage facilities in the UK, per its own website in 2026. Shurgard completed its acquisition of Lok'nStore Group in August 2024, bringing that UK chain under the same parent group.
Can I hire rather than buy?
Yes. Most UK storage companies hire as well as sell, and many carry several makes without listing them. Search by your area and ask what they have on the yard.
Other comparisons
GetBrent is an independent directory and is not a dealer for, nor affiliated with, either manufacturer. Brand and model names are the trademarks of their owners, used here only to identify the products they refer to. Specifications vary by model year and market - confirm weights, dimensions and towing limits with the supplier before hiring or buying.