Jasmine Birtles
Your money-making expert. Financial journalist, TV and radio personality.
How you can save money on storage with storage by the box
Moneymagpie Team
19th Oct 2025
If you’ve ever rented a self-storage unit, you’ll know the story. You start off thinking you only need a small space, but somehow end up paying for a unit big enough to fit half your house.
Then there’s the deposit, the van hire, the padlock, the insurance add-on and the monthly cost. Storage can quickly become more expensive than you expected, especially if you’re only storing a few boxes.
But a new type of storage is becoming more popular, and it’s helping a lot of people save a lot of money. It’s called “storage by the box”.
- What is storage by the box?
- How much can you actually save?
- Who it’s best for
- Cutting down the cost of storage
What is storage by the box?
Storage by the box is a newer, easier way to store your stuff. Instead of paying for a whole storage unit, you only pay for the boxes you actually use.
Companies that use this model tend to deliver empty boxes to your door. Then you pack them up, and they collect them for storage in a secure facility. When you need your things back, they deliver them straight to you.
No driving to a storage unit on a Sunday afternoon. No overpaying for space you don’t need. It’s a simpler way to store – and it’s cost effective too.
How it helps you save money
The main way people save money with this type of storage is by only paying for what they use. Traditional storage units are charged by size, but even the smallest units are often more than you really need. You might be storing six boxes, but paying for a space that could fit ten.
With storage by the box, pricing is based on the number of boxes, not square footage. For example, one storage by the box company, The Box Co., stores boxes from £3.56 per month, including £100 insurance per box. That’s a fraction of what you’d pay for even the smallest traditional unit in most UK cities.
You’ll also save on:
- Transport costs: You don’t need to hire a van or drive to the facility, collection and delivery are handled for you.
- Insurance: It’s often included in the price, rather than added on.
- Time: Packing, loading and unloading all take time (and sometimes days off work). With storage by the box, it’s all arranged online.
How much can you actually save?
Here’s a simple comparison showing the difference between traditional self-storage and storage-by-the-box services:
| Company | Type | Typical Monthly Cost | What You Get | Extra Costs |
| The Box Co. | Storage by the box | From £3.56 per box per month | Door-to-door collection and return, £100 insurance | Small fee to return goods |
| Big Yellow | Traditional unit | From £40-£100/month for a small unit | Access to your own unit | Padlock, insurance, travel costs |
| Safestore | Traditional unit | £80.83 per month in London for a 25sq fi unit | 24/7 access to a local unit | Insurance and transport not included |
| Access Self Storage | Traditional unit | From £15 per week | Storage unit with on-site access | Insurance, padlock, travel costs |
As you can see, if you’re only storing a few boxes, storage by the box can easily cost less than a tenth of what you’d pay for a traditional unit.
Who it’s best for
This kind of storage is perfect for people who only need to store a few items, like students between terms, renters moving between homes, or anyone who’s short on space. It’s also great if you want to rotate seasonal items like winter clothes, sports gear or Christmas decorations without cluttering up your home.
If you’re storing an entire house’s worth of furniture, you may still need a traditional unit. But for most people, especially in cities where space is at a premium, storage by the box is the cheaper, more flexible choice.
Cutting down the cost of storage
As living costs rise and people downsize, storage by the box is changing the way we think about storage. These companies are making it possible to keep what matters without paying over the odds for empty space.
It’s a great solution for modern living: simple, affordable, and designed for people who want convenience as much as cost.
Quick tips to cut your storage bill even more
- Declutter first. The fewer items you store, the lower your monthly cost.
- Compare pricing models. Paying per box can be far cheaper than per square foot.
- Watch for extras. Traditional storage often comes with hidden fees for insurance, padlocks, or access. Make sure you know what you’re paying for.
- Plan short-term storage carefully. Some companies offer discounts if you prepay for a few months. Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.
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