How much do storage units cost in Manchester, UK?

Introduction

Manchester is one of the fastest-growing cities in Europe. In the past 20 years alone, the population has risen by 40% to almost 600,000 people.

The wider Greater Manchester area now numbers almost 3,000,000 residents. And it is not just people who are moving in, businesses are flooding in, too, with more than 100,000 firms now established in the city.

Property rental prices are high and on an upward trajectory. While still more affordable than London, Manchester is one of the most expensive metropolitan districts in the UK.

Unsurprisingly, then, storage space is at a premium. For many businesses and individuals with goods to store, self storage is a popular solution.

The importance of understanding storage costs in Manchester before renting

If you have decided that self storage is the answer to the daily clutter that is affecting either your home or business premises, you will probably be scouting around for available local options.

Among the many things to think about are location, security, and, of course, the cost. Costs of renting storage in Manchester vary between different providers. In this article, we will set out to explore the various elements that determine the price you will pay for storage.

Factors influencing storage unit costs

While self storage centres have many similarities, no two are exactly alike. Here are six factors that will influence the price you pay for storage in Manchester.

1. Unit size and dimensions

How much space do you need? Storage space costs in Manchester, as with every city in the UK, are greatly influenced by the size of the unit you choose.

2. Rental duration

Most self storage depots charge by the month. The longer your goods are in storage, the more you will pay.

3. Location and accessibility

The more central your storage unit, the higher the prices are likely to be. Rural storage centres, or those at suburban industrial parks, are often cheaper.

4. Indoor versus outdoor units

Generally speaking, there are two types of self storage centres: those that use shipping containers as storage units and those that more closely resemble converted warehouses. Robust shipping containers are usually more affordable.

5. Luxury features

‘Luxury’ may be stretching things a little, but it is certainly true that some self storage centres have things like climate control and relatively luxurious features, such as a customer snack area. The more ‘upmarket’ the centre, the higher the likely storage costs.

6. Security and safety features

If you were to place two identical self storage centres side-by-side, you would likely pay more for the one with better security features as the company will need to recoup their costs.

Some common considerations and extra fees

You’ll need to set aside some time with a calculator to assess Manchester self storage prices in full detail. Here are some of the extra fees that you need to think about.

Deposits and upfront costs

Does your self storage centre demand a deposit – or one or two months’ payment in advance? These need to be considered when considering your options.

Insurance requirements

Many people who store their items in a self storage centre take out third-party insurance to cover their belongings. This is generally quite affordable, though is an additional cost that you need to think about.

Administrative fees

Does your self storage centre charge onboarding or other administrative fees to cover booking you in?

Access hours and cost implications

If your self storage centre is not open at convenient times, there may be an indirect cost. Let’s say you are an e-commerce business and need to access your stock in storage on a Sunday. If the self storage centre isn’t open that day, you will be unable to do business.

Add-on services that may influence the price

Before you draw a line under the total amount you have calculated, it’s worth ensuring you have covered all bases. Additional fees when moving your goods to a self storage centre may include:

Van hire or removal services

Self-hire of a small van is very affordable. In Manchester, a budget of £40-£70 per day should be sufficient. If, however, you hire a professional moving firm or a person with a van, then costs will rise.

Well-established removals firms are seldom cheap, and moving the contents of a three-bedroom house could cost £1,000 or more.

Packing materials and supplies

If you are budgeting for self storage, it stands to reason that you have attached a certain value to the items you wish to put in storage. Packing them properly, therefore, makes good sense. The price of bubble wrap and cardboard boxes should all be factored into your calculations.

Digital booking and account access

Some self storage centres may charge fees for digital booking and online account access – although these are likely to be small.

How to save money when renting storage

The cash-conscious consumer has several options up his or her sleeve when planning to move goods into self storage. Here are some of the options:

Declutter first to minimise space

Naturally, the more you store, the more space you will need. A meticulous cull of any superfluous items can help to reduce your rental costs.

Take time to pick the right unit size for you

Once you have discarded unwanted items, take a sheet of paper and draw out the dimensions of the storage unit you are interested in. Keeping to the same scale, pencil in the objects that you wish to store, remembering that you have lots of vertical space as well as just floor space.

Remember to check out all the different sizes of storage unit that are available at local centres. Some Manchester self storage centres have one or two sizes available, often 20 or 40-foot units, while others have a much larger selection of choices. TITAN Containers’ Wythenshawe storage centre, for example, has a full range of units to hire.

The smallest of these is a micro unit that costs from just £1.18 per day – one of the cheapest Manchester self storage options. At the opposite end of the scale, a 40-foot storage unit, which typically holds the contents of a three or four-bedroom house, is available from £11.40 per day.

Optimise how you pack and stack items

A well-packed storage unit will always provide the best value for money as it will enable you to maximise every square inch. Remember that empty wardrobes and drawers can be filled with boxes once they are in storage, too.

Split your unit with a friend or family member

Larger self storage units tend to offer better value than smaller ones. If you have a friend or family member that is also interested in self storage, sharing a large unit will usually work out less expensive than individually renting two smaller ones.

The same logic applies to businesses. If you are a small business, it is worth talking to neighbouring firms to see if they have storage needs. By splitting a unit, you can lower the overall cost.

Look for discounts or offers

Keep an eye on Facebook or local newspaper adverts to see if any self storage centres in Manchester near you currently have any offers available. Feel free to call any storage centres you are considering and ask if they have any special deals if you commit to a certain minimum rental term.

How to choose the right storage unit

Multiple factors affect what storage units cost in Manchester, and the lowest price isn’t always going to give you the most satisfying solution. Here are four things to think about when choosing the right unit for you:

1. Evaluate your storage needs

This should always be your starting point. When looking at self storage options in Manchester, it makes little sense to pay a monthly fee to store items that you don’t want or need any more. Meticulously sorting out those items you truly wish to store from those that have served their time and are destined for the skip will save you money in the long term.

For larger items, perhaps you have a friend or family member who could look after them for you for a while? This is especially true of furniture that your friend could use while they are looking after it for you. Many people could happily use extra wardrobe space, for example, or a second sofa.

2. Balance between cost and security

How valuable are your items in storage? If you are weighing up the pros and cons of two very similar storage centres and the higher-priced one comes with significantly better security features, the extra fee may not be worth it if all you are storing is bags of old clothes and VHS cassettes.

3. Proximity and convenience

This is probably the most important thing to consider when choosing a self storage centre in Manchester. If you are based in Altrincham and the nearest storage centre is in Wythenshawe, the journey by car is unlikely to take more than 20 minutes. If, however, you are considering a self storage centre nearer to Prestwich, the journey will be significantly longer.

Distance becomes less important if you plan on putting your items in storage for the long term and will rarely visit the storage centre. For example, you may have sold your property and want to keep your belongings in storage while you rent in the city for a couple of years.

4. Read the fine print before booking

When renting self storage space, you will usually have to sign a contract. This document will set out the storage centre’s terms and conditions, as well as any rules regarding items that can be kept in storage.

To avoid issues at a later date, put aside some time to read through the fine print before signing. Uploading the document to an AI platform such as ChatGPT and asking for a summary or any irregularities can help speed things up.

Conclusion

Hiring self storage space can be a fantastic way to free up clutter around your home or business. It is the preferred option for thousands of people across the UK – and Manchester is no exception.

With space at such a premium, self storage offers Manchester residents a convenient alternative to discarding items that are not currently in use.

TITAN Containers has a wide network of UK self storage centres, including two in Manchester (our newest self storage centre in Carrington is coming soon). Our many years of experience in this space put us in an unrivalled position when offering guidance and advice.

As already covered in this article, some of the most important things to consider when choosing a storage centre are the cost, the convenience and the security.

We believe the best approach is always to look at the whole picture before coming to a decision. Ask yourself:

• Have I done thorough research into self storage prices in Manchester?
• What are the security and access arrangements for the centres at the top of my list?
• How long will it take for me to visit my storage unit if I want to take something out or add new items

Clients often start their journey by trying to find out how much is storage in Manchester – but the price is just one of the many factors that should enter into your deliberations.

By taking a helicopter view of self storage, you will be well-equipped to make a decision that will serve you well for the months or years ahead.

Get the storage space you need at the right price – start comparing your options in Manchester today.