Student Moving Guide: The Cheapest Ways to Ship Your Stuff
Moving to university or between student houses does not have to break the bank. Here is a comparison of every option so you can pick the cheapest one for your situation.
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Option 1: Send Boxes by Courier
The simplest option if you do not have too much stuff. Pack everything into boxes (up to 30kg each) and book a courier to collect from your door. Services like ParcelForce, Hermes and UPS all handle boxes, and comparison sites can find prices from around 5-10 pounds per box for next-day delivery.
Student shipping specialists like UniBaggage and My Baggage offer deals specifically for students, including door-to-door service with tracking. Expect to pay 15-20 pounds per large box. If you have 4-6 boxes, this is usually the cheapest and easiest option.
Option 2: Hire a Van
If you have furniture or a lot of belongings, hiring a van may be cheaper than sending dozens of boxes. Enterprise and Europcar offer small vans from around 40-60 pounds per day. Add fuel costs (budget 20-40 pounds depending on distance). You will need a full driving licence and most companies require you to be at least 21.
Split the cost with housemates moving on the same day and it becomes very affordable. A van that costs 50 pounds split four ways is just 12.50 each plus fuel.
Option 3: Summer Storage
If you do not want to move everything home for summer, student storage companies collect your boxes, store them over summer, and deliver them to your new address in September. Companies like LoveSpace, Stored and Big Yellow offer student packages from around 5-8 pounds per box per month.
For 6 boxes over 3 months, expect to pay 90-150 pounds including collection and delivery. This is worth it if the alternative is shipping everything home and back again, which would cost more.
Cost Comparison
| Method | Typical Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Courier (per box) | 5 - 20 | Small amounts, no car |
| Student specialist | 15 - 25 per box | Door-to-door convenience |
| Van hire | 50 - 100 total | Lots of stuff, can drive |
| Summer storage | 90 - 150 for 3 months | Avoiding double move |
| Parents car | Fuel only | Everything |
Packing Tips
- Use strong boxes. Supermarkets give away banana boxes which are perfect.
- Label every box clearly with your name and destination room
- Heavy items (books) in small boxes, light items (clothes) in big boxes
- Fill gaps with clothes or towels instead of buying bubble wrap
- Take photos of valuable items before packing for insurance purposes