1 in 4 Students Stressed About Moving & Storage

Packing, storing, and transporting belongings is one of the biggest hidden stress factors for university students across Europe, new data shows.

A recent survey commissioned by LoveSpace, a UK-based storage provider, found that 24.1% of students feel overwhelmed by the logistics of moving their belongings at the end of term - whether that means packing boxes, finding somewhere to store them, or getting everything home without a car.

A widespread issue

Across Europe, more than 20 million students are enrolled in higher education. Each summer, millions of them relocate between university halls, shared flats, and family homes - often with limited space, transport, or time.

Based on average trends, an estimated 2–3 million students each year look for temporary or short-term storage between terms or while studying abroad. This includes international students returning home for the summer and domestic students moving between cities for internships or new courses.

The LoveSpace study, which surveyed 348 UK students, highlights how these practical issues quickly add up:

• 13.2% said packing up all their belongings was a top concern.

• 6.0% struggled to find suitable storage.

• 6.3% were stressed about travelling home with everything.

Although exams and coursework remain students’ biggest pressures, logistical and housing-related stress is increasingly significant - especially for those studying far from home.

Other concerns include:

• 8.6% worried about losing deposits after cleaning checks.

• 6.9% struggled with saying goodbye to friends.

• 11.2% were uncertain about what the next term would bring.

• 5.5% found moving back home difficult.

Seasonal storage peaks and new behaviour

The research also reflects broader European trends: demand for student storage peaks in May and June, when students move out, and again in August and September, when items are returned before term starts. Many now prefer short-term, flexible, collection-based storage rather than traditional long-term units.

How The Storage Scanner supports students

At The Storage Scanner, we help students across Europe compare and book trusted storage providers, including services like LoveSpace (UK), SaveSpace (DE/CH), InboxStorage (NL), Ztorage (SE) and and many others. Our platform lists thousands of facilities, prices, and contract types - from pickup-and-delivery storage to self-storage units - so students can find the most convenient and affordable option for their situation.

With over 10,000 facilities listed across 13 countries, The Storage Scanner makes it easy for students to reduce the stress of moving, save money, and store their belongings safely between terms.