Quick answer
You need storage during a move when there is a gap between leaving one home and getting into the next. The main options are storage-in-transit through your mover, a self storage unit, or a portable storage container. Cost depends on how much you store, for how long, where, and how often it is handled.
In this guide
When do you need storage during a move?
Most people never plan on storage. They end up needing it because two dates will not cooperate. The common situations:
- A closing or lease gap. You have to be out of the old place before the new one is ready
- Moving first, house hunting second. You are relocating for a job and renting or staying in temporary housing while you look
- New construction or renovation. The house exists but the floors, paint, or final inspection are not done
- Downsizing. The new home is smaller and you need time to decide what stays
- Selling. You are clearing out furniture so the home shows better while it is on the market
- A long-distance move with a flexible arrival. You will not reach the new city until weeks after your goods could
If your gap is only a day or two, ask your mover about adjusting the delivery date before you pay for storage. On a long-distance move the delivery window may already cover it. See why delivery windows vary.
Storage options compared
There are three practical ways to handle storage during a move. They differ mostly in who does the handling and how easily you can get to your things.
| Storage-in-transit | Self storage unit | Portable storage container | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it works | Your mover holds the shipment in a warehouse between pickup and delivery | You rent a unit at a facility and move items in and out | A container is dropped at your home, loaded, then stored or shipped |
| Who handles it | The moving crew | You, or movers you hire | You, or labor you hire |
| Access | Limited, usually by appointment | Whenever the facility is open | Easy at your home, limited once it is at a depot |
| Best for | Short gaps on a long-distance move | Longer or open-ended storage, and items you need to reach | Staged moves, renovations, and flexible timing |
How storage-in-transit works
Storage-in-transit, often shortened to SIT, is temporary storage that is part of the move itself. The crew loads your home as usual. In place of going straight to your new address, the shipment is unloaded into a warehouse, usually into wooden storage vaults or onto racks, and held under your inventory until you call for delivery.
The advantages are simple: one company is responsible from start to finish, your goods stay on one inventory, and you do not lift anything. The trade-offs are access and time limits. You generally cannot drop by to pull out a winter coat, and SIT is meant to be temporary. After a set period it typically converts to long-term storage under different terms, so ask what the limit is.
Before you agree to it, ask how valuation coverage applies while your goods are in the warehouse. Our guide to moving insurance and valuation explains the options.
Dates not lining up? Tell us about the gap when you request your free quote and we will help you plan the move around it.
What sets storage costs
Prices vary too much by city, season, and company for one number to be useful. What you can count on is how each option is priced, so you can compare storage costs line by line.
- How much you store. SIT is commonly priced by the weight of the shipment. A self storage unit is priced by its size. Containers are priced per container
- How long. Units and containers bill monthly. SIT is usually billed by the day or month after the first period
- Handling. SIT adds charges for moving the shipment into the warehouse and back out, plus the final delivery. With a unit or container, you pay in your own labor or for hired help at each end
- Location. The same unit costs more in a dense city than in a small town
- Climate control. A climate-controlled unit costs more than a standard drive-up unit
- Transport. A container moved to another city has a transport charge on top of the monthly rent
- Insurance and fees. Facilities often require proof of insurance or sell their own, and may charge administrative or lock fees
Add the total for your whole expected stay, not just the first month. An introductory rate on a self storage unit can rise later, and extra handling is where SIT bills grow.
Do you need climate-controlled storage?
It depends on what you are storing, for how long, and in what season. Climate-controlled storage keeps temperature, and often humidity, within a moderate range. It is worth paying for when you are storing any of these for more than a few weeks:
- Solid wood and antique furniture, which can warp or crack
- Leather and upholstered pieces, which can mildew in humid air
- Electronics, vinyl records, and musical instruments
- Artwork, photographs, books, and important papers
- Mattresses and clothing you care about
Some things should not go into storage at all: food, plants, anything flammable or corrosive, and irreplaceable items such as jewelry, cash, and personal documents. Our list of what movers won't move covers the hazardous items.
How to prepare belongings for storage
- Sort first. Every item you donate or sell is one you do not pay to store
- Keep an inventory. Number the boxes and list what is in each one. Photos help with any later claim
- Clean and dry everything. Defrost and dry the refrigerator and freezer, drain the washer hoses, and wipe down anything that held food
- Protect furniture with breathable covers. Moving pads, sheets, and furniture covers let air move. Avoid sealing wood or leather in plastic for long stays
- Take apart what you can. Beds, table legs, and shelving store flatter and safer. Bag and label the hardware
- Use sturdy, same-size boxes so stacks stay stable, and do not overfill them
- Plan the layout. Heavy items low, fragile on top, an aisle down the middle, and the things you will need first near the door
- Keep items off the floor on pallets or boards where you can
Our packing services include boxes, paper, bubble wrap, and tape in the quote, and our crews handle furniture disassembly and reassembly. For more on organizing a unit, see our storage unit tips.
How to keep storage short, or skip it
Storage solves a timing problem, so the cheapest fix is often to fix the timing.
- Ask your agent about a later closing, early possession, or a short rent-back
- Ask your landlord for a few extra days, prorated
- Store only what will not fit in temporary housing and take the rest with you
- Choose your pickup date with the delivery window in mind, so less of the gap needs storage
When storage is the right call, tell your mover at the quote stage. It affects how the shipment is planned and loaded. Allpoints also offers labor-only help, including loading or unloading a rental truck or container. Request a free quote or read about our long-distance moving service.
Key takeaways
- Storage solves a gap between move-out and move-in, so check whether the dates can move first
- Storage-in-transit is the least work. A self storage unit gives the most access
- Cost comes down to volume, time, location, handling, and climate control
- Use climate control for wood, leather, electronics, art, and papers on longer stays
- Sort, inventory, clean, and cover everything before it goes into storage
