If you need somewhere to put your belongings between properties, the choice usually comes down to self storage vs removal company storage. One is a unit you rent and load yourself; the other is containerised storage arranged and handled by your removal company. Both solve the same problem, but they work very differently, and the right choice depends on how your move is structured, how long you need storage, and how often you need to reach your things. This guide compares the two across the factors that actually matter mid-move.
Self Storage vs Removal Company Storage: How Each Works
Self storage gives you a lockable unit, usually in a warehouse facility, that you drive to, let yourself into, and load yourself. You handle transport, loading, and unloading. The facility provides the space and the security, and you hold the key.
Removal company storage works the other way round. Your removal company loads your belongings from your home, transports them to its facility, and places them into a container or designated space. Access is by appointment rather than on demand, and when your next property is ready the company delivers your items back to you.
Move In Matters uses containerised storage in Bicester at its Wedgwood Road depot. Items go into storage as part of the removal, so the same crew that loads your home drives to the depot and places everything into your container, then re-delivers when your new address is ready.
Side-by-Side Comparison
The table covers the practical differences. The “best for” row at the bottom summarises the overall fit.
| Factor | Self storage | Removal company storage |
| Who loads and unloads | You, or a separate van hire | Your removal crew |
| Access to your items | On demand, during facility hours | By appointment |
| Collection and delivery | Not included, you arrange transport | Included as part of the move |
| Typical unit sizes | Small lockers up to large rooms | Containerised units, sizes vary by provider |
| Short stays (1 to 4 weeks) | Flexible daily or weekly rates | Well suited, bridges gaps between dates |
| Long stays (3 months plus) | Often lower cost per week at volume | Practical if you want full delivery at the end |
| Security | CCTV, pin entry, alarmed units, your key | Facility CCTV, sealed containers in a managed depot |
| Cost basis | Unit rate only, transport on top | Bundled with the move |
| Best for | Frequent access, long projects, DIY movers | Gap storage between homes, full-service moves |
Who Loads and Unloads
This is the sharpest practical difference. With self storage, you get your belongings to and from the unit: hiring a van, finding help, and making trips if the property is large. If you are already booking a full-service move in Bicester, you either ask the crew to drop everything at the self storage facility, which adds time and mileage to the quote, or handle a second load yourself once the removal van has gone.
With containerised removal company storage there is no separate transport task. The crew loads your home, drives to the depot, and unloads into the container. At the other end the same process runs in reverse, which saves most movers a lot of effort and planning.
Access to Your Items
Self storage facilities usually allow access during opening hours, and many offer extended or 24-hour entry. If you need a document, a tool, or a specific item while between properties, you can go and get it the same day.
Removal company containerised storage is accessed by appointment, because the container sits in a depot rather than a drive-up unit, so you cannot simply turn up and dig through boxes. For most gap-storage situations, where items go in for two to eight weeks while contracts exchange, this is rarely an issue. If you know you will need specific items during the storage period, flag it when you book and the team will talk through what is practical for your dates.
Cost Factors
Self storage pricing is typically based on unit size per week or per month, and the headline rate does not include the transport to get your things there or collect them at the end.
Removal company storage is usually bundled with the move, so one price covers loading, transport, storage, and re-delivery. For a straightforward gap between selling one home and completing on another, the all-in figure is often comparable to self storage once you add the van hire and labour that self storage needs on top. The fair way to compare is to price your move and storage together, then set that against the self storage rate plus your own transport. You can ask for an itemised quote to see the all-in number for your move.
Security
Both options provide CCTV and access controls. Self storage uses pin entry, alarmed units, and perimeter cameras, and you hold the only key. Removal company storage uses facility-level security, with your items in a sealed container inside a managed depot.
The real question is not which is safer in absolute terms, since both beat leaving items in an empty property or a hired van. It is whether you want sole-key access, which is self storage, or managed custody, where the company is responsible for the container from loading to re-delivery.
Short Stays vs Long Stays
For a short gap of one to four weeks, common when a chain completes in stages, removal company storage works well. Loading and re-delivery happen around the move itself, and the container simply sits in the depot in between with no action needed from you.
For longer stays of three months or more the picture shifts. If you are renovating, travelling for work, or facing a drawn-out sale, regular self storage can work out cheaper per week, especially if the volume is modest, with the trade-off being the access and transport overhead. Move In Matters offers both short and long-term containerised storage, and can advise on what makes sense if your timeline is uncertain when you book.
Which Option Suits Different Situations
- Short property chain gap (2 to 6 weeks): Removal company storage. Items go in with the crew and come out on delivery day, with no second vehicle needed.
- Long renovation project (3 months plus, frequent access): Self storage, so you can retrieve tools, furniture, or clothing without booking an appointment.
- Full-service move with no van driving: Removal company storage, handled end to end by one team.
- Partial move where some items stay at home: Either works; discuss with the company what goes into storage and what stays.
- Business relocation with a phased office move: Removal company storage, especially where the company offers commercial storage alongside the move.
FAQs
Self storage gives you a unit you load yourself and access on demand. Removal company storage is loaded by your crew, held at their depot, and re-delivered when you are ready. The main differences are who does the physical work, how you access the items, and how the cost is put together.
Not necessarily, once you account for the transport that self storage does not include. A self storage rate covers the unit only; you still need a van and labour to move items in and out. Removal company storage bundles loading, transport, storage, and re-delivery, so compare the all-in figures for your specific move.
Yes, by appointment. Because the container is held in a managed depot rather than a drive-up unit, you contact the team in advance to arrange access. If frequent access is a firm requirement, self storage is likely the better fit.
This varies by company. Move In Matters offers both short and long-term containerised storage from its Bicester depot, from a short gap of a few weeks up to several months, and will confirm unit size and availability when you enquire.
Need Storage as Part of Your Move?
Move In Matters provides containerised storage from its Wedgwood Road depot alongside house removals and office relocations. It also offers storage for Banbury customers and the wider Oxfordshire area. If you are moving and need storage as part of the job, get a free, itemised quote and the team will come back with clear pricing based on your actual requirements. Nothing is too much trouble.