Four ways to store your stuff in Cape Town
We sell one of these four, so read the table with that in mind. We have tried to write it the way we would explain it on the phone — including the jobs we would lose.
Our figures are our live rate card. The others are Cape Town market ranges as at 2026 and will vary by suburb, unit size and season — check a current quote before you decide.
| Attribute | StrongBoxValet storage — we collect, store and return | Self-storage unitYou rent a locker and drive to it | DIY truck + garageHired bakkie, a friend's spare room | Removal company storageA mover's warehouse, container-billed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay forThe unit of billing, which is where most of the cost difference actually comes from. | Each box or item you store — nothing for empty space | The whole unit, full or half-empty | Vehicle hire, fuel, and a favour owed | A container or pallet, minimum one |
| Typical monthly costCape Town market ranges as at 2026. Ours is our live rate card; the rest are estimates. Per box we are cheaper up to roughly three or four boxes — above that a unit wins on rand. | R195–R595 per box | R700–R1,800 for the smallest units | R0 after the move — if the space is free | R900–R2,500 per container |
| Collection and delivery | Included in the pickup fee, booked online | Your problem, every single time | Your problem, plus the driving | Quoted per trip, usually costly |
| Who does the lifting | Our team, at your door | You, twice | You and whoever you can talk into it | Their team, at their schedule |
| Getting one item backThe everyday case: you want the winter duvet, not the whole load. | Request it in the app, next-day delivery | Drive there and dig through the pile | Depends whose garage it is | Often not possible without unpacking the container |
| InsuranceIn South Africa the owner insures their own goods in storage, whoever is holding them — usually by extending a household contents policy. None of these four is a substitute for that. | You insure your own goods; we give you the photo record a claim needs | You insure your own goods; operators often sell or require a policy | Your household policy, if it extends to someone else's garage | You insure your own goods; usually offered as a paid add-on |
| Knowing what you stored | Photo inventory, every box barcoded | Whatever you wrote on the lid | Memory | A manifest, if you asked for one |
| Contract and cancellation | Monthly, cancel anytime — or prepay for a discount | Often a minimum term with a notice period | None | Typically 3–6 months minimum |
| Storing large furnitureWhere volume, not convenience, drives the bill. | Loose items priced by the m³ — fine for a few pieces | Cheapest per m³ once you fill a unit | Free if you have the space | Built for exactly this |
| Best for | Flats and small homes storing boxes and seasonal gear | A full household of furniture, long term | One-off, short term, with space and a strong back | Emigration and long-distance moves |
StrongBox
Valet storage — we collect, store and return
- What you pay for
- Each box or item you store — nothing for empty space
- Typical monthly cost
- R195–R595 per box
- Collection and delivery
- Included in the pickup fee, booked online
- Who does the lifting
- Our team, at your door
- Getting one item back
- Request it in the app, next-day delivery
- Insurance
- You insure your own goods; we give you the photo record a claim needs
- Knowing what you stored
- Photo inventory, every box barcoded
- Contract and cancellation
- Monthly, cancel anytime — or prepay for a discount
- Storing large furniture
- Loose items priced by the m³ — fine for a few pieces
- Best for
- Flats and small homes storing boxes and seasonal gear
Self-storage unit
You rent a locker and drive to it
- What you pay for
- The whole unit, full or half-empty
- Typical monthly cost
- R700–R1,800 for the smallest units
- Collection and delivery
- Your problem, every single time
- Who does the lifting
- You, twice
- Getting one item back
- Drive there and dig through the pile
- Insurance
- You insure your own goods; operators often sell or require a policy
- Knowing what you stored
- Whatever you wrote on the lid
- Contract and cancellation
- Often a minimum term with a notice period
- Storing large furniture
- Cheapest per m³ once you fill a unit
- Best for
- A full household of furniture, long term
DIY truck + garage
Hired bakkie, a friend's spare room
- What you pay for
- Vehicle hire, fuel, and a favour owed
- Typical monthly cost
- R0 after the move — if the space is free
- Collection and delivery
- Your problem, plus the driving
- Who does the lifting
- You and whoever you can talk into it
- Getting one item back
- Depends whose garage it is
- Insurance
- Your household policy, if it extends to someone else's garage
- Knowing what you stored
- Memory
- Contract and cancellation
- None
- Storing large furniture
- Free if you have the space
- Best for
- One-off, short term, with space and a strong back
Removal company storage
A mover's warehouse, container-billed
- What you pay for
- A container or pallet, minimum one
- Typical monthly cost
- R900–R2,500 per container
- Collection and delivery
- Quoted per trip, usually costly
- Who does the lifting
- Their team, at their schedule
- Getting one item back
- Often not possible without unpacking the container
- Insurance
- You insure your own goods; usually offered as a paid add-on
- Knowing what you stored
- A manifest, if you asked for one
- Contract and cancellation
- Typically 3–6 months minimum
- Storing large furniture
- Built for exactly this
- Best for
- Emigration and long-distance moves
When you should not choose us
You are storing a full house of furniture
Past roughly fifteen cubic metres, a self-storage unit is cheaper per cubic metre than paying us by the item. We will tell you that on the phone.
You need access several times a week
Our returns are next-day. If you are pulling stock or tools out daily, a unit you hold the key to is the right tool.
You are moving cities or countries
A removal company that stores and ships in one contract will beat splitting the job between us and them.
If one of those is you, tell us anyway. We would rather point you somewhere better than take a booking you will cancel in a month.
Boxes, not lockers
The smallest self-storage unit in Cape Town is bigger than most people need. If what you are storing is a few boxes, a bicycle and a suitcase, you are renting a lot of empty air — and driving to it. Past three or four boxes the rand tips the other way, and we will say so.
Priced per box
From R195 a month. Store six boxes, pay for six boxes.
Nobody drives anywhere
Collection and return happen at your door, booked online.
You can see what you stored
Every box is photographed and barcoded to your account.
Put a number on it
Work out what a self-storage unit would actually cost you over a year, then compare it with what you would pay us for the same load.