Full-Service Student Storage Company Price Comparison in 2026

Full-service student storage looks simple on a pricing page. You pack, a crew picks up, and your things come back in the fall.

The final bill is where the details show up. Most students compare the per-item price and stop there.

That approach leaves out the billing minimum, the size tier each item lands in, and the fee for a pickup outside the scheduled dates. This guide covers how pricing works in 2026, what a summer realistically costs, and four companies students commonly consider.

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Key Takeaways

• Most full-service student storage companies charge per item, not per storage unit. Pickup and delivery are usually built into that price on scheduled dates.
• A typical summer with a full-service company costs about $150 to $500 total. How many items you store moves the number more than anything else.
• Storage Scholars publishes its rates before you book: $14 to $40 per item per month, with a typical summer landing between $300 and $500.
• Before you book any company, check four things: the minimum billing term, the size tier for each item, the included coverage, and the fee for moves outside the standard dates.

How Full-Service Student Storage Pricing Works

Full-service means the company handles pickup, storage, and delivery. You never rent a truck or visit a storage unit.

You Pay by the Item, Not the Space

You pay for each box, suitcase, or piece of furniture the crew picks up. Items are sorted into size tiers, so a small bin costs less than a mini-fridge.

This model rewards students who pack efficiently. Ten full boxes cost less than ten boxes plus a loose lamp, a rug, and a bag of hangers.

A Minimum Billing Term Usually Applies

Summer plans typically bill for a set number of months, even if your items come back early. Four months is a common minimum because it covers a standard May-to-August break.

Pickup and Delivery Are Tied to Set Dates

Companies usually schedule free pickup around finals week and free delivery around move-in week. A move outside those windows can cost extra.

What a Summer of Full-Service Storage Actually Costs

Your item count drives the total. Here is a realistic range based on how much you store:

• 5 to 8 boxes: about $150 to $300 for the summer, with pickup and delivery included
• A full dorm room with some furniture: about $300 to $500 for the summer
• A senior storing 20+ boxes plus furniture between graduation and a first apartment: expect the high end of the range or above

Most freshmen have 6 to 10 boxes by summer break. Upperclassmen often have 10 to 15 after adding kitchen supplies and textbooks.

A self-storage unit can look cheaper at first. Once you add truck rental, gas, a lock, and your time, a summer often totals $200 to $800. Our guide to college student storage costs breaks down that math in detail.

To estimate your own number, use the college storage cost calculator and pricing guide.

Price Comparison of Full-Service Student Storage Companies at a Glance

The table uses criteria that shape your final price and that each company publicly documents.

Competitor details reflect publicly available information accessed September 30, 2026. Pricing and services vary by campus and can change. Confirm current details directly with each company.

The Companies Compared

1. Storage Scholars

The top pick for students who want the full price in view before they book.

How pricing works: Storage Scholars charges per item by size tier. Rates run $14 to $40 per item per month, and a typical summer costs $300 to $500.

You can prepay with a package or pay per item after service. Rates for your school appear on the pricing page once you select your campus.

What's included:

• Free packing supplies, including boxes, tape, and labels
• Pickup from your dorm or apartment by a trained crew
• Secure, climate-controlled storage
• Delivery to your new room or apartment before you return
• Complimentary coverage for your belongings, with paid upgrades available
• Digital inventory tracking, with each item measured and photographed at pickup
• Text updates at each step

Storage Scholars reports a 1.01% damage-claim rate across all moves as of September 2026.

Storage terms: You can choose Summer (up to 120 days), Short Term (up to 30 days), or Abroad (up to 270 days). Incoming students can use Ship to School, which includes a free kit with 5 medium boxes, tape, and 5 prepaid FedEx labels.

Fees to know: Each order carries a minimum billing term, disclosed before you sign up. A move outside your campus's complimentary dates carries a surcharge of up to $300 to cover a dedicated truck and crew.

Where it operates: The company serves 200+ campuses. Washington and Lee University lists it as a preferred moving, storage, and shipping partner. You can check your school on the campuses we serve page.

What to consider: Rates vary by campus, so select your school on the pricing page to see your exact prices. Learn more about the college storage service.

2. Dorm Room Movers

How pricing works: Dorm Room Movers prices storage per item based on size. Pickup and delivery are included on its featured dates.

What's included: Williams College's housing office notes that the company sends boxes and tape directly to students for packing. The same page lists storage for a summer, a semester, or a year.

Where it operates: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute lists Dorm Room Movers as its official storage provider.

What to consider: Check if your school lists it as a housing partner.

3. Storage Squad

How pricing works: The University of Colorado Boulder's housing page describes Storage Squad's pricing as per item.

What's included: Storage Squad offers pickup, storage, and delivery for college students. Its BBB profile describes storage for summer breaks and study abroad.

Where it operates: Cornell students founded the company in 2011. It now belongs to the 1-800-PACK-RAT family of companies and serves 40+ schools across 15+ states, according to a Great Guys Moving profile.

What to consider: Find out if your campus falls outside its service area.

4. Campus Carriers

How pricing works: Campus Carriers charges students only for the items they store, according to its ZoomInfo company profile.

What's included: Service covers pickup from residence hall rooms, storage over the summer, and delivery before classes resume.

Where it operates: The company was founded in 2009, according to CB Insights. It works through partnerships with individual universities, and the Savannah College of Art and Design endorses its program.

What to consider: You should check if your university is not one of its partners.

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Mistakes That Raise Your Storage Bill

A few small choices can add real money to your final bill. Watch for these before pickup day.

• Storing items you could replace for less. A $15 desk lamp stored for 4 months can cost more than a new one in August.
• Leaving items loose. Each loose item counts separately. Bag hangers, cords, and small decor into one box.
• Booking during finals week. Popular pickup dates fill up. Book 4 to 6 weeks ahead to get the slot you want.
• Skipping the inventory check. Review your itemized list after pickup. It is easier to fix a miscount in May than in September.

Choosing the Right Company for Your Summer

Most full-service student storage companies use the same basic model. Per-item pricing, included pickup and delivery, and a minimum billing term. The differences show up in published rates, storage term options, and where each company operates.

For most students, Storage Scholars is the simplest place to start. Its per-item rates and typical summer cost are published up front, it offers Summer, Short Term, and Abroad terms, and it serves 200+ campuses. When you know your item count, get your quote and reserve your pickup date.

• Top pick: Storage Scholars, for published per-item rates, three storage terms, and service across 200+ campuses.
• Runner-up: Dorm Room Movers, for students at a school that lists it as the housing partner.

Related Reading

• College Storage Cost Calculator and Pricing Guide
• College Student Storage Cost: Compare Your Options
• College Summer Storage: The Complete Guide for Students

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