How Are Storage Fees Calculated?

Storage pricing looks inconsistent because it is inconsistent. There's rarely a single flat rate. Instead, most providers use a base price with a stack of add-ons on top, and the final bill depends on which of those apply to you.

Understanding the components makes it much easier to spot a genuinely good quote — and to avoid signing up for one that grows every month.

Size is the biggest one. Traditional self-storage charges by unit size (square metres) and you sign up for a fixed room. PickupStorage charges per storage unit — R850 per month for each 6.3 m³ unit — so you book only as many whole units as your item list needs, rather than committing to a fixed room that might be too big.

Location matters too. Facilities close to the CBD or major suburbs cost more per square metre than warehouses further out. That's why our Epping warehouse can offer better value per unit than city-fringe self-storage.

Month-to-month contracts are more flexible but rarely the lowest cost per month. Longer commitments often unlock discounts.

How often you need to access your items also affects price. If you're pulling stock weekly, an on-site self-storage unit may suit you. If you access things a few times a year, managed warehouse storage with door-to-door collection usually costs less overall.

Watch for extras: admin fees, mandatory insurance, padlocks, after-hours access, and — the big one — pickup and delivery fees that only appear at the end of the sign-up flow.

We quote by whole storage units at R850 per unit per month, with each unit giving you 6.3 m³ of space — so as a space guide that works out to approximately R135/m³ per month. We work out the number of units you need from your item list, and there's a one-unit minimum. Collection is a standard once-off fee of R600 from our Epping warehouse, shown on your quote before booking, and return delivery is quoted separately — never surprise-added at the door.

That's it. No lock fees, no admin fees, no square-metre-versus-cubic-metre confusion.