Mobile storage is self-storage that comes to you. Instead of hiring a van and driving your belongings to a facility, the storage container is delivered to your door, loaded where it stands, then taken away and kept in a secure warehouse until you want it back.
It's sometimes called container storage, pod storage or door-to-door storage, and it's grown quickly in London, where parking a hire van outside a terraced house or a third-floor flat is rarely straightforward.
Here's how it works, how it differs from a traditional storage unit, what fits in a container and what it costs.
How mobile storage works
1. Collection
You book a collection date and the container is brought to your home or business address. You can load it yourself, or have the team do it for you. Because the container sits at street level, there are no lifts, corridors or trolleys involved - things go straight in.
2. Storage
Once loaded, the container is sealed and driven to a secure facility, where it stays until you need it. You aren't paying for a room you have to visit; you're paying for the space your belongings actually occupy.
3. Redelivery
When you're ready, you book a redelivery date and the container comes back to the address you choose - your new home, your old one, or somewhere else entirely. Kiwi Storage can redeliver anywhere in the UK, and overseas.
How mobile storage differs from a self-storage unit
The stored goods end up in much the same kind of building. The difference is everything either side of that.
With a traditional unit you handle the transport, which usually means van hire, fuel, a parking suspension and at least two journeys - one to put things in, one to take them out. With , the journeys are the provider's problem.
The trade-off is access. A self-storage unit you can walk into whenever the facility is open. A mobile container is in a warehouse, so visiting it takes notice - typically 72 hours - and carries an access fee. If you need to dip into your belongings every week, a unit suits you better. If you're putting things away and getting them back in one go, mobile storage almost always works out easier and cheaper.
What fits in a mobile storage container
A Kiwi Storage container is 2.4m long, 2.2m high and 1.5m wide - about 35 square foot, or roughly the footprint of a garden shed. That's enough for the contents of a small one-bedroom flat, and it will take bulky items whole:
- A king size bed
- A fridge freezer
- A three-seater sofa
If you have more than that, you add containers rather than upgrading to a different unit, and the cost per container comes down as you add them.
What mobile storage costs
Kiwi Storage's mobile storage starts from £99 per month for one container. Collection is included in the booking; redelivery and depot access are charged separately, and deliveries outside the M25 cost more. Insurance is required - either your own, or cover arranged through the storage provider on a new-for-old basis.
Because the pricing depends on how many containers you need and how long you need them, the quickest way to get a real figure is to .
Who mobile storage suits
Mobile storage tends to make the most sense when moving your belongings is the hard part, rather than storing them. That covers house moves with a gap between completion dates, renovations where rooms need clearing, families short on space, students leaving London for the summer, and anyone without a car or a driving licence.
It's also worth a look if you're renting - living in flats with no loft, no garage and no spare room.
FAQs
Is mobile storage the same as self-storage?
It's a type of self-storage. Your goods are stored in a secure facility either way. The difference is that with mobile storage the container comes to you, so you don't transport anything yourself.
Can I access my belongings while they're in storage?
Yes, but not on demand. You book a visit to the depot with notice - usually 72 hours - and there's an access fee per container. If you expect to need regular access, a walk-in storage unit is the better choice.
Do I have to pack the container myself?
No. You can load it yourself if you'd rather, but providers like Kiwi Storage offer packing and loading as a service, which is what most people choose when they're already in the middle of a move.
How long can I keep mobile storage for?
As long as you need. Storage runs month to month rather than on a fixed term, and domestic customers give 14 days' written notice when they want to end it.
