The state of UK self storage in numbers: industry size, average prices per sq ft, occupancy, who's renting and how they book, with Find My Storage analysis on what each figure means for storage seekers.
Industry turnover
£1.3bn
Stores nationwide
3,143
Lettable space
67.5m sq ft
Average occupancy
74.5%
Lettable space
67.5m sq ft
Maximum lettable area (MLA)
Avg revenue per sq ft
£27.40
Down 5.1% year on year (ex VAT)
Industry revenue per sq ft slipped from £28.87 to £27.40 ex VAT, a 5.1% decline and the first in the SSA UK series. With around 230 new stores opening and average occupancy easing to 74.5%, operators are competing harder on weekly price than they have in a decade. For anyone hunting for a unit, that is the strongest argument in years to compare two or three local sites before signing.
Regional patterns matter more than the headline. The South East saw the steepest fall (-8.5%); London eased -3.5% while staying the most expensive market by a wide margin. The North bucked the trend with a +2.9% rise but remains the cheapest macro-region at £21.65 per sq ft. Container stores accounted for a large share of new openings, which tends to drag the regional average down faster than indoor-only data implies.
Short analysis paragraphs per region, selected figures from the SSA UK report, paired with what each one means in practice for someone comparing a unit.
£42.39/sq ft-3.5% YoY
London storage remains the most expensive in the UK, roughly 55% above the national average, driven by land values and demand from movers and small businesses. Prices nudged down 3.5% last year, the first dip in years, so it pays to compare more than one operator. Mature occupancy is 77%, meaning there is genuine availability rather than the historic squeeze.
£28.24/sq ft-8.5% YoY
The South East saw the steepest fall in storage prices last year, down 8.5% per sq ft. With more supply opening and occupancy steady at 78.9%, comparing two or three local sites can save real money, especially for movers in commuter towns where new container and indoor stores compete on weekly rates.
£25.96/sq ft-4.5% YoY
Storage in the East of England runs slightly below the UK average and fell 4.5% last year. Occupancy sits at 80.4%, the second highest in the country, so popular sites near Cambridge, Norwich and Chelmsford fill quickly. Booking a few weeks ahead and comparing operators on weekly all-in price is the surest way to get the unit you want.
£23.30/sq ft-1.0% YoY
The South West holds steady on price, down just 1% last year, and is one of the more affordable regions to store, around 15% below the UK average. Bristol, Bath and Plymouth have a healthy mix of indoor and container sites, so comparing access hours and insurance inclusions matters more than chasing the cheapest sticker price.
£22.74/sq ft-2.1% YoY
Scottish storage averages £22.74 per sq ft, comfortably below the UK average, and yet mature occupancy is 83.4%, the second highest in the country. That tells you space is well used and the cheapest sites near Edinburgh and Glasgow can be tight. Compare two or three operators and check whether 24/7 access is included.
£22.43/sq ft-4.6% YoY
Yorkshire and the Humber storage prices eased 4.6% in 2025 to £22.43 per sq ft, well below the UK average. Leeds, Sheffield and Hull have a wide spread of operator types, and with mature occupancy at 81.2% there is choice without long waits. Container sites in particular tend to undercut the indoor average.
£21.65/sq ft+2.9% YoY
The North was the only UK region where storage prices rose last year, up 2.9%, yet at £21.65 per sq ft it remains the cheapest in the country, around 21% below the UK average. Manchester, Liverpool and Newcastle all have growing supply, but rising demand means it still pays to compare and book ahead.
£21.35/sq ft-2.1% YoY
East Midlands storage is among the most affordable in the UK at £21.35 per sq ft and softened 2.1% last year. Nottingham, Leicester and Derby have a healthy supply of both indoor and container sites. Comparing weekly prices and access hours tends to surface 15 to 20% differences between operators on the same street.
£20.57/sq ft-0.2% YoY
The West Midlands and Wales is the cheapest UK macro-region for storage at £20.57 per sq ft, virtually unchanged on the year. Mature occupancy is the highest in the country at 84.6%. Popular Birmingham, Cardiff and Wolverhampton sites fill quickly, so book ahead and compare two or three operators to lock in a fair price.
Regional revenue per sq ft and occupancy from the SSA UK Self Storage Annual Report 2026. Interpretation by Find My Storage.
The customer base is older than most platform design assumes: 31% are aged 55 to 64 and the under-35s make up under 9% of renters. About a quarter of customers are businesses; the rest are domestic, most commonly storing because of a house move or because they've simply run out of room at home.
Source: SSA UK Self Storage Annual Report 2026.
33.5% of UK customers now prefer to book on mobile, up from 14% the previous year, narrowly ahead of in-store. Internet search as the discovery channel fell from 55.4% to 42.5%, suggesting AI-assisted search and direct comparison platforms are absorbing the rest.
Source: SSA UK Self Storage Annual Report 2026.
Coming soon · First-party data
We're compiling our own monthly index from real quoted prices across our verified operator listings, refreshed monthly per city and per unit size. Unlike the SSA's regional, annual operator metric, the FMS Price Index will report the kind of figure storage seekers actually compare on, the headline weekly rate for a 25, 50, 100 or 150 sq ft unit in their town.
Distinct from SSA figures above. Will be labelled "Data compiled by findmystorage.co.uk" wherever it appears.
Pick your region and a unit size for an indicative monthly cost band, then compare live operator prices near you.
Typical cost for a 50 sq ft unit in London
£150 – £203 /month
UK-wide equivalent: roughly £97 to £131/month for the same size. Actual quoted prices vary widely between facilities, which is exactly why it pays to compare.
Indicative band derived from regional operator revenue per sq ft (annual rate × sq ft ÷ 12, ±15%) in the SSA UK Self Storage Annual Report 2026. Actual quoted prices vary by facility, unit size and availability.
Operators are competing harder than they have in a decade. Compare two or three local sites on weekly all-in price before you book.