Shurgard

What Shurgard does

Shurgard Self Storage is Europe's largest self-storage operator, founded in 1994 and headquartered in Thames Ditton, United Kingdom. The company is publicly listed on Euronext under the ticker SHUR and operates a network of physical self-storage facilities across seven European countries: the United Kingdom, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands. Within the UK, Shurgard maintains an extensive regional footprint with storage clusters in London, the East Midlands, East of England, North West, South East, South West, West Midlands, and Wales, accessed via self-serve online rental, a mobile app (gate access, invoicing, account management), and phone-based sales support.

The core product is monthly subscription rental of physical storage units in multiple sizes, with no minimum stay, 15-day cancellation notice, extended 7-day access hours, and security infrastructure including surveillance cameras, perimeter fencing, alarms, and individual access codes. Ancillary revenue streams include lock sales, optional SHURProtect goods protection coverage, administration fees, and moving boxes/packing supplies. Two customer segments are addressed: individual/residential customers (moving, renovating, decluttering, student, seasonal tyre storage) and business customers (archive, equipment, last-mile delivery, multi-site, office move, and stock storage).

The business model is asset-heavy real estate with recurring subscription revenue at unit level, complemented by ancillary fees. GTM is primarily product-led growth via a direct-to-consumer online reservation platform with inside sales backup, supported by content marketing, social media, SEO, and promotional pricing (£1 first month, 50% first month, Online Special). Distribution is governed by physical location density (described as Europe's largest network), supplemented by the mobile app and phone channel. Shurgard acquired UK operator Lok'nStore in 2024, and holds ESG credentials including BEL ESG membership, GRESB Sector Leader (2023), and EPRA Gold (2021).

Name

Shurgard

Legal name

Shurgard Self Storage

Website

https://shurgard.co.uk

Company type

Public

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Shurgard Self Storage is Europe's largest self-storage operator, offering flexible monthly storage unit rentals across seven European countries (UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, Netherlands) to individual consumers and small businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Self-Storage Services

NAICS

Lessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units (53113), Lessors of Miniwarehouses and Self-Storage Units (531130), General Warehousing and Storage (493110)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Real Estate Investment Trusts (6798)

akta.pro primary industry

Standard/Non-Climate Self-Storage (HSAKAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business & Commercial Self-Storage (Inventory/Records) (HSAKAGAD)

Keywords

• Self-storage units
• Personal storage
• Business storage
• Storage rentals
• Self-storage operator

Headquarters

HQ city

Thames Ditton

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices18 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Storage Unit Rental: Monthly recurring rental revenue from storage unit leases. Customers pay monthly rent with flexible 15-day notice cancellation terms. No minimum stay required. Revenue is subscription-based and predictable, driven by occupancy rates and rental pricing across the facility network.
2. Ancillary Services: Additional revenue streams including lock sales, optional SHURProtect insurance/add-on coverage, and administration fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Shurgard operates a network of self-storage facilities across seven European countries (UK, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands), renting storage units of varying sizes to individuals and small/medium businesses on flexible monthly contracts. The company supplements its core rental offering with ancillary services and products including a mobile app, online booking platform, SHURProtect goods protection insurance, locks, and moving boxes.

Product overview

Shurgard operates as a self-storage operator offering a unified platform of storage solutions. The core product consists of self-storage units available in various sizes for both personal and business use, with flexible month-to-month contracts. The company also provides complementary services including the Shurgard mobile app for account management, SHURProtect goods protection insurance, and moving boxes as ancillary products. Business customers can access specialized storage services including archive, equipment, stock, and last-mile delivery storage, while personal customers have options for furniture, seasonal tyre, and student storage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personal Storage Units
• Business Storage Units
• SHURProtect
• Storage Accessories (Locks and Moving Boxes)

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Teenage Cancer TrustminorOthersShurgard has a charitable partnership with Teenage Cancer Trust, a UK cancer charity supporting young people with cancer.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Big Yellow Group: Big Yellow is the largest dedicated self-storage operator in the UK with a similar business model offering flexible monthly self-storage units to consumer and business customers. Its UK focus, listed status, and operational approach closely parallel Shurgard's UK operations.
• Safestore Holdings: Safestore is a UK-listed self-storage group with operations spanning the UK and major European markets including France, Spain, and the Netherlands. Its multi-country platform, listed REIT structure, and consumer/business segmentation directly overlap with Shurgard's footprint and operating model.
• Public Storage: Public Storage is the largest self-storage operator in the United States and is explicitly linked to Shurgard's UK website, signaling a historic corporate relationship. Its model of operating owned self-storage facilities on monthly recurring rentals is the direct reference point for Shurgard's strategy.
• Access Self Storage: Access Self Storage is a UK-based self-storage operator offering flexible rental units and business storage to residential and SME customers. Its UK-focused facility network and similar service portfolio make it a like-for-like competitor to Shurgard's UK operations.

Broad incumbents

• Extra Space Storage: Extra Space Storage is one of the largest US self-storage REITs with a primarily American footprint and brand. While non-overlapping geographically with Shurgard, it is highly comparable in model, REIT structure, and customer segmentation.
• CubeSmart: CubeSmart operates a national US self-storage REIT portfolio targeting both residential and business customers. Its scale, REIT-financed growth strategy, and product offering closely mirror Shurgard's European platform even though its footprint is US-only.
• Life Storage: Life Storage is a publicly traded US self-storage REIT operating hundreds of facilities across the United States. Now part of Extra Space Storage, it remains a relevant comparable for the scale, branding, and recurring rental economics Shurgard targets in Europe.
• National Storage Affiliates Trust: National Storage Affiliates Trust is a US-listed self-storage REIT with an affiliate-driven operating model spanning thousands of facilities. Its REIT structure and franchise-like operating approach inform the way Shurgard's pan-European platform is evaluated by investors.

Emerging players

• PODS Enterprises: PODS provides portable storage containers and full-service moving and storage solutions in the US, Canada, UK, and other markets. While not a fixed-facility self-storage operator like Shurgard, it competes for the same residential and small-business moving and storage demand.

Regional players

• Storebox: Storebox is a self-storage operator with a strong footprint in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. As a regional DACH-focused competitor, it overlaps with Shurgard's German operations and competes for the same urban storage demand.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/shurgarduk
• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/ShurgardSelfStorage
• Facebookfacebook.com/ShurgardSelfStorage
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shurgard-europe
• Pinterestpinterest.com/shurgard

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Shurgard