Self Storage When Moving Home in Ireland — Complete Guide

Self storage is increasingly common during Irish house moves — particularly when there's a gap between sale and purchase, a renovation delay, or a chain break. A standard 75 sq ft unit covers the contents of a 2-bedroom flat and costs €85–€200/month depending on city.

When you need storage during a move

The Irish property market frequently creates gaps between leaving one home and settling into the next. Storage is useful in these common scenarios:

• Chain break: Your buyer is ready but your purchase is delayed. You need somewhere to put your belongings for 2–8 weeks.
• Renovation: You've bought a house that needs work before it's liveable. Furniture goes into storage while you stay with family or in temporary accommodation.
• Downsizing: Moving from a 4-bed to a 2-bed and not ready to part with everything — storage buys you time to make decisions without pressure.
• Rental gap: Lease ended before the new rental is available. 2–4 weeks of storage is often cheaper than paying overlap rent.

How much space do you need?

A rough guide based on what you're storing:

When in doubt, go one size up — you can always use the extra space to stack boxes vertically, and a slightly bigger unit is far less stressful than a cramped one when you need to retrieve something.

Packing furniture for storage

Furniture stored correctly will come out in perfect condition. A few important tips:

• Disassemble beds, dining tables and wardrobes to save space and prevent warping.
• Wrap upholstered pieces in furniture covers or old duvets — avoid plastic sheeting which traps moisture.
• Store sofas and mattresses upright (on their ends) to free floor space.
• Keep aisles in your unit — you'll inevitably need to retrieve something from the back.
• Put heavy, infrequently needed boxes at the back and bottom. Daily-use items near the door.
• Label every box on the side, not the top — when they're stacked, you can still read the labels.

Short vs long-term storage

Most operators offer rolling monthly contracts — there's no need to commit to a long term for a house move. However, if you know you'll need storage for 3+ months (e.g., extended renovation), ask about reduced rates for upfront payment. Savings of 10–20% are common.

What it costs

For a standard 2–3 bed house move, expect to pay:

• Dublin: €150–€260/month for a 100–150 sq ft unit
• Cork / Galway: €100–€190/month
• Limerick / Waterford: €85–€160/month

Add €10–€20/month for contents insurance if you don't have home insurance that covers off-site storage (most standard Irish home insurance policies don't).