Self Storage vs Storage in Transit: Which Is Right for You?
The choice between self storage and storage in transit is not really a choice about price, although container storage is usually the cheaper of the two. It is a choice about whether you need to walk in and get your things. If you do, you want a self storage unit. If your possessions are simply going from one house to another with a gap in the middle, storage in transit through your remover is faster, cheaper and involves far less lifting.
Storage in transit means your remover packs your goods straight into sealed wooden containers on moving day and takes them into a warehouse. You do not handle them again until delivery.
A standard warehouse container holds 250 cubic feet and measures roughly 5 feet wide, 7 feet deep and 8 feet high, on the British Association of Removers' own figures.
Self storage is a unit you rent and load yourself, with your own padlock and, at most facilities, access during opening hours and often 24 hours a day.
BAR's own guidance says container storage is almost always cheaper than self storage, and that warehouse access is minimal and always accompanied by staff.
What storage in transit actually is
Storage in transit, often shortened to SIT, is the industry name for storage that sits in the middle of a move. Your completion dates have not lined up, or you have sold and not bought, or you are going abroad for six months. The remover loads your goods on the agreed day, drives them to their warehouse, and they stay in sealed containers until you say where to deliver them.
The containers are purpose-built wooden boxes. The British Association of Removers describes the standard warehouse container as holding 250 cubic feet, roughly 5 feet wide by 7 feet deep by 8 feet high, designed to be durable, weather-resistant and stackable. A typical three-bedroom house of furniture runs to several of them. Your goods are inventoried as they go in, the containers are sealed, and they are stacked in a managed warehouse rather than left in an open unit.
The practical consequence is that you never touch your own belongings. One firm packs, loads, stores and delivers, so there is no van to hire, no friends to bribe and no handover point where something can go missing between two companies.
What self storage actually is
Self storage is a rented room. You choose a size, you get a key or a code, and you fill it yourself. BAR's own description is the honest one: you can usually access your unit during the facility's opening hours, most (but not all) sites are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and units above ground floor have lift or forklift access. Security is typically gated access and cameras, with a padlock on your own door.
That access is the whole point of it. If you are running a business from a Sussex market town and need to get at stock, or you are living in a rented flat while you look for something to buy and need the winter coats in November, self storage is the only sensible answer. Storage in transit cannot do that without a charge and a booked appointment.
The honest comparison
| Storage in transit (containerised) | Self storage | |
|---|---|---|
| Who loads it | The removal crew, on moving day | You, or a van you hire |
| Access | Minimal, by appointment, staff accompanied | Opening hours, often 24/7 |
| Typical cost | Usually the cheaper option, per BAR | Usually higher for the same volume |
| Sold by | Volume, in 250 cubic foot containers | Floor area, in square feet |
| Handling risk | One company, sealed and inventoried | Two or three handling stages |
| Best for | A gap between completions, a posting abroad, downsizing | Business stock, ongoing storage, anything you need back |
Which one your move needs
- Your chain has slipped by a fortnight. Storage in transit, every time. The remover already has your goods on the van.
- You have sold, you are renting, and you do not know for how long. Storage in transit if you can live out of suitcases, self storage if you cannot.
- You are downsizing and keeping things for the children. Storage in transit. It is cheaper per cubic foot and you are not going to visit it.
- You are decluttering the house for viewings. Self storage, because the stuff comes back in stages as the sale progresses.
- You run a business and are moving premises. Self storage, unless the gap is a matter of days.
- You are going overseas for a work posting. Storage in transit, and check whether your remover quotes the same rate for long-term storage.
The questions to ask before you book
Ask how the price is calculated. Container storage is quoted per container per week or per month, so get the estimator to tell you how many containers your house will fill, and ask what happens if it turns out to be one more than they thought. Self storage is quoted per square foot, so measure or ask them to estimate rather than guessing, because the cheapest advertised unit is usually smaller than you picture.
Ask what the insurance covers and who provides it. Storage insurance through the remover is usually a separate line on the quote and is not automatic. Self storage sites nearly always require you to insure the contents and may sell you a policy at the desk; check whether your existing contents insurer will cover goods in store, because it is sometimes cheaper.
Ask about access charges. With storage in transit, retrieving a single item may mean a handling fee and a few days' notice, because a member of staff has to bring the container down. If there is any chance you will need something, say so before the containers are packed, and keep it out.
Ask about the exit. Find out the notice period for taking goods out, whether delivery back is included in the quote, and whether individual containers can be returned separately. BAR notes that each container can be itemised so you can choose which ones to have back, and that some movers offer individual item delivery as a premium service.
Finally, check the firm. The British Association of Removers runs a member directory and an Advanced Payment Guarantee scheme for private individuals moving home to, from or within the UK, which is worth having when you are paying in advance for storage you cannot see.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between self storage and storage in transit?
Self storage is a unit you rent and fill yourself, with your own key and regular access. Storage in transit is storage arranged through your remover, where your goods are packed into sealed wooden containers on moving day and held in a managed warehouse until delivery, with minimal access in between.
Is storage in transit cheaper than self storage?
Usually, yes. The British Association of Removers states that container storage is almost always cheaper than self storage, partly because goods are packed densely into containers and stacked, so you pay for volume used rather than for a room with air in it.
How big is a storage container?
A standard warehouse container holds about 250 cubic feet and measures roughly 5 feet wide, 7 feet deep and 8 feet high. How many you need depends on how much you are storing; a removal estimator will work it out from a survey of the house.
Can I get to my things in storage in transit?
Not freely. Warehouse access is minimal and you are accompanied by a member of staff, so expect to give notice and possibly pay a handling charge. If you will need regular access, self storage is the right product.
Do I need separate insurance for stored goods?
Almost always. Storage cover is a separate item on a removal quote rather than something included by default, and self storage sites generally require you to insure the contents. Ask your existing contents insurer first, because cover for goods in store is sometimes cheaper as an extension.
How long can goods stay in storage?
Both options handle long stays. Storage in transit is priced per container per week or month with no fixed end, and self storage is normally rolling with a short notice period. If the stay is likely to run past a few months, ask for a long-term rate before you sign.
Sources
- British Association of Removers: home storage, for the 250 cubic foot container and its approximate 5ft by 7ft by 8ft dimensions, the sealed container process, warehouse access being minimal and staff accompanied, and container storage being almost always cheaper than self storage
- British Association of Removers: self storage, for access hours, lift and forklift access, and gated and camera security
More from Move Sussex: what removals cost in Sussex, moving to Sussex and decluttering before you move.
Checked on 16 September 2026. Container sizes and access arrangements vary between firms, so confirm both in writing before you book.