SSA UK Report: Container Storage Surges in 2025

Key Statistics 

• £1.2 billion industry turnover in 2024
• 1,135 container sites out of 2,915 total 
• 2.6 staff per store on average - lowest on record
• 6% revenue growth despite slight drop in occupancy
• 90% of stores offer online booking
• 24% of users run a business from their storage unit
• Churn rate below 100% - customers staying longer
• 2-3% of population use storage; 10% would consider it

The industry turned over just under £1.2 billion in 2024. Container storage is now taking centre stage - especially in rural and semi-rural areas where affordable land and easier planning make expansion more viable. Operators are responding to growing demand from individuals, SMEs, tradespeople, and even mobile businesses seeking secure, flexible and cost-effective space.

In partnership with the Self Storage Association UK, Cushman & Wakefield - a leading global real estate services firm - brings its market analysis expertise to the sector. Renowned for its commercial property insight, the firm plays a key role in producing the annual industry report, offering valuable guidance to self storage operators, investors, and stakeholders across the UK.

Container Growth and Untapped Demand

There are 1,135 container-based storage sites in the UK out of 2,915 total stores, meaning containers now account for nearly 40% of all self storage locations nationwide.

Despite this impressive growth, there remains significant untapped potential. While only 2-3% of the population currently use self storage, research shows that up to 10% have considered it. This gap presents a valuable opportunity for operators - particularly those embracing automation and digital services - to capture new demand and increase visibility.

Looking Ahead 

The 2025 SSA UK Annual Industry Report reveals container storage as the fastest-growing segment of the UK’s self storage market, particularly thriving in rural and semi-rural areas where expansion is more accessible. As customer needs shift, operators are seeing increased long-term use, especially from businesses using storage units as operational hubs. 

This evolution is helping reduce churn and boost revenue, even amid slight dips in overall occupancy. The report also highlights a growing embrace of automation, with more facilities moving to online bookings and digitally managed models - though container sites still lag behind in tech adoption, pointing to strong opportunities for future innovation.