storage - which option
Self storage or container storage? Which suits what you are storing
Self storage is an indoor room in a managed building; container storage is a steel container, often outdoors on a yard. Container storage is usually cheaper per square foot and better for bulky or robust items. Self storage is better for anything that cares about damp or temperature, and for anything you need to visit often.
Why trust this page: GetBrent is a directory. We take no commission and we provide neither service, so we have no stake in which one you pick - which is the only reason a comparison like this is worth reading.
Self storage
A lockable indoor unit inside a managed facility, with staffed reception, security and set access hours.
Best for
- +Anything sensitive to damp or temperature swings - documents, electronics, upholstery, instruments, photographs
- +Frequent access, because units are indoors and reachable in any weather
- +Business stock and archives that need to be got at regularly
- +Anyone who wants staff, CCTV and alarms as standard
- +Short and flexible terms, with the ability to move up or down a size
Watch out for
- -Costs more per square foot than a container
- -Access hours may be limited, and 24-hour access often costs more
- -Many facilities require you to hold insurance, sometimes theirs
- -Check how trolleys, lifts and loading bays work if you are storing heavy items
Container storage
A steel shipping container, either on a secure yard you visit or delivered to your own land.
Best for
- +Bulky, robust items - furniture, tools, machinery, stock in crates
- +Longer terms where the lower monthly cost compounds
- +Drive-up loading straight from a van or trailer with no corridors or lifts
- +Storage on your own site, where a container can go where the work is
- +Anyone who wants a lot of space for the money
Watch out for
- -Containers sweat. Condensation is the single biggest risk to what is inside one
- -Outdoor yards can have restricted access hours and are less pleasant in bad weather
- -Security varies a great deal between yards - look at the fencing, the gate and the cameras yourself
- -Getting a container sited on your own land needs a firm level base and sometimes permission
The short answer
If what you are storing would be damaged by damp, or you will visit weekly, choose self storage. If it is bulky, robust and going away for a long time, container storage gives more space for the money. For anything borderline, the deciding question is condensation rather than price.
What to ask before you book
- •Ask specifically how condensation is managed, and whether the unit is ventilated or heated.
- •Ask about access hours, out-of-hours access and whether it costs extra.
- •Ask what insurance is required, whether you must buy theirs, and what it actually covers.
- •Ask about notice periods and what happens if you need to leave early.
- •Visit before signing. Security is something you can see and a website cannot show you.
Find companies near you
Whichever way you go, compare two or three local firms. GetBrent charges no booking fee.
Browse storage companies