More people across the South West are turning to self-storage as the UK’s demand for extra space continues to grow, pushing the national self-storage market above £1.2 billion a year.
What was once seen as a niche service has become mainstream, with storage space across the UK now stretching to more than 64 million square feet. The sector has grown by over seven per cent year on year, and industry experts say demand is likely to keep growing by five-six per cent annually.
The surge has been driven by rising house prices, smaller homes, more renting and more regular moves are all squeezing space, leaving households looking for somewhere to put the things they still need but no longer have room for.
New data from storage-by-the-box company The Box Co. shows that the South West is increasingly contributing to this national trend.
Bristol is the strongest regional hub, accounting for around five per cent of The Box Co.’s total UK storage volume. Exeter follows with three per cent, while Bath represents a further two per cent, showing steady demand across the region’s key cities.
While larger cities still lead the way, smaller towns across the South West are also starting to see demand pick up.
According to The Box Co., orders in Portsmouth increased by approximately 70 per cent, albeit from a lower base, making it one of the fastest-growing areas for storage usage.
Even Truro has now joined the storage boom, recording its first-ever orders as the trend spreads from major cities to smaller coastal towns.
These stats show that the storage trend still has plenty of room to grow as more people discover how easy it is to use.
How people use storage also changes from place to place. Data from The Box Co. shows that extra-large boxes are the most popular option in Bristol and Bath, often linked to big life changes like moving house, renovating or downsizing.
In Exeter, demand tends to be slightly more modest, with large boxes proving the most popular choice. This points to shorter-term storage needs, like making room for a home office or dealing with overflow during a rental move.
Across the UK, awareness of self-storage now sits at around 50 per cent, with roughly one in ten adults saying they would consider using storage in the future.
Even with that growth, the UK still has far less storage space per person than countries like the United States, showing that demand could continue to rise as living habits change and homes get tighter on space.
A spokesperson for The Box Co. said the South West figures show that people are adapting how they live and work:
“What we’re seeing in the South West mirrors what’s happening across the UK. People are moving more often, working more flexibly, and living in homes that don’t have the space they once did. Storage is no longer just for major life events; it’s becoming an easy way to manage space.”
They added that growth outside major cities is particularly interesting: "While Bristol remains a key hub for storage in the South West, the rise in places like Exeter, Portsmouth and even Truro shows that storage demand is spreading well beyond big city areas.”
To support demand across the region, The Box Co. has launched a limited South West offer. Residents can receive ten per cent off storage until March by using the code SOUTHWEST10.
With housing pressures showing no signs of easing and flexibility becoming more important, demand for self-storage across the South West is expected to keep rising through 2026 and beyond.
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