Micro-Move Storage is the newest category of Moving, Storage industry. Designed specifically for small moves— like a few boxes, it combines on-demand pickup, secure off-site storage, and return delivery, eliminating the need for a moving truck or traditional self-storage unit.
Unlike moving companies built for large home relocations, or self-storage businesses that rent out entire units, Micro-Move Storage serves individuals with smaller, simpler storage needs—students, renters, digital nomads, and people in transition. Even just one Box.
With Micro-Move Storage, users schedule a pickup online, pack their items, and let a service provider such as UPS, FEDEX, or USPS handle the rest. Their items are stored safely in a warehouse and delivered back on demand, whether that’s weeks or months later.
“The moving and storage industry has evolved over the last century to meet the shifting needs of Americans on the move. From the full-service moving giants like Mayflower and Bekins in the early 1900s, to the rise of self-storage in the 1960s, and the portable container revolution led by PODS in the late 1990s—each wave of innovation has responded to how people live, move, and store.
After more than 30 years in consumer-facing businesses and as a self-storage owner, I noticed a common request—many people only needed to store a few boxes, usually between one and ten, and often wanted an easy way to ship them directly to storage. That’s why we started Ship2Storage. In doing so, we introduced what has now become known as the fourth pillar of the Moving and Storage Industry: Micro-Move Storage. In just the past 10 years, this new way of storing has grown quickly and is now helping a fast-growing community of people just like you.
| Traditional Moving United. Mayflower. Allied. |
Self-Storage Public. Extra Space. CubeSmart. |
Mobile Storage PODS. UHaul. 800PackRat. |
Micro-Move Storage Ship2Storage. |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| CUSTOMER | Anyone with very large moving need such as a full house move with furniture and appliances. | Anyone with ongoing, local medium to large storage needs. Extra home storage. Small business inventory. | Anyone needing large temporary storage. Home remodeling projects. DIY home moves. | Anyone with small to medium moving and storage needs. 1-10 boxes. |
| BEST FOR | Big life transitions. One-way-trip relocations. Too large for DIY. | Long-term or indefinite storage needs. Lower price. Local with full accessibility. | Temporary storage needs delivered to home. No truck needed. | Shipping boxes to storage. Micro-Moves of 1–10 boxes. UPS/FEDEX Pickup or Dropoff. |
| SCALE | Whole house, apartment or small business. | 1-3 Rooms/Seasonal and Extra Items needing storage. | 1-3 Rooms/Seasonal and Extra Items needing storage. | Micro-Move of 1-10 boxes. |
| SERVICE | Full-service: Plan, pack, load, transport, unload, and unpack. | Customer rents storage unit, transports items, stores and retrieves on their time. | Container dropped at home, customer packs, unit stays at residence or can be stored locally or moved nationally. | Boxes are shipped via UPS/FEDEX to a secure warehouse. Customer accesses their online account to retrieve boxes. |
| BENEFIT | Convenience, peace of mind, personal time savings, reliability. | Lowest cost for long-term local storage, independence, easy access to stored items. | Flexibility in packing time, no rental truck, container can be stored or shipped. | Low per-box pricing, online management, more flexible and affordable for 1–10 boxes. |
| EFFORT | Research and interview prospective companies. Negotiate and sign contracts. | Rent Unit and sign contract. Drive to and from facility. Lift and Carry everything. | Provide space for the container to fit onto the property. Possible HOA issues. Lift and Carry everything. | Pack each box. Print out Label. Schedule pick up or drop off at UPS or FEDEX. |
| FLEXIBILITY | Fixed moving day/week | Subject to Property Day/Hours | 24/7 when container is on property. Same as Self-Storage when at facility. Same as Full service when being moved. | 24/7 for ordering. Subject to UPS/FEDEX for shipping to and returning from the facility |
| COST | $$$$$ EXPENSIVE Full service. |
$$ LOW - MEDIUM Monthly rate depends on storage unit size. |
$$$$ MEDIUM - HIGH Rates based on the size and number of containers, time, transportation, and storage. |
$ LOW Customer pays monthly, per-box storage fee and UPS/FEDEX shipping rates at 25% below published rate. |
When it comes to storing or moving belongings, there are four main types of storage options: full-service movers, self-storage units, portable storage containers, and the newer category—Micro-Move Storage. Each works differently, depending on how much you need to store, how much effort you want to put in, and how much space you have available.
| Category | Best For | How it Works | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Service Movers | Entire household moves, furniture, long-distance relocations | Moving crew packs, loads, drives, and unloads all belongings | Turnkey solution, no heavy lifting, long-distance capable | Expensive, scheduled service, less control |
| Self-Storage | Ongoing storage, medium to large loads, people with vehicles | Rent a unit, drive items there, load/unload yourself, visit when needed | Flexible unit sizes, access most anytime | Pay for full unit even if half-empty, requires transport and labor |
| Portable Storage | Households with furniture, people with driveway or curb space | Container (like PODS/U-Box) delivered to home, self-load, stored on-site or off | Convenient for big loads, can double as short-term storage during moves. Pay only for boxes stored, no truck or unit needed, private and hassle-free | Requires space to park container, self-loading, often oversized for small needs |
| Micro-Move Storage | Small loads (1–10 boxes, up to a few dozen), students, renters, digital nomads | Use your own boxes, pack on your own schedule, schedule pickup, stored in warehouse, return delivery on demand | XXXXX | Not designed for furniture or full households. |
Micro-Move Storage is the fourth category of moving and storage, designed for small loads—typically 1 to 10 boxes, or up to a few dozen. Traditional options include:
Micro-Move Storage fills the gap. You pack your own boxes, schedule a pickup, and they’re stored in a secure warehouse. When you need them back, they’re delivered to your door. Ship2Storage is the first Micro-Move Storage Company to offer this service.
Self-storage requires renting an entire unit, whether you fill it or not. You also need to drive to the facility, load and unload, and manage locks or codes.
With Micro-Move Storage, there’s no unit to rent. You only pay for the boxes you store, and pickup and return are arranged for you.
Portable storage containers (PODS, U-Box, 1-800-Pack-Rat) deliver a large box to your driveway or curb. You load it yourself, and it works best for big loads or furniture.
Micro-Move Storage skips the container. Your individual boxes are picked up and stored off-site, making it more practical for dorms, apartments, and urban areas where curbside space isn’t available.
Full-service movers are structured for entire households, with trucks, teams, and hourly billing. Micro-Move Storage is designed for light moves—just boxes, not furniture—so it’s faster, cheaper, and less complex.
Clutter sends you its own boxes and kits, requires scheduling their movers, and bundles services you may not need. This often means waiting for boxes, dealing with the wrong sizes, and higher costs overall.
Micro-Move Storage is more flexible. You use your own boxes, pack at your own pace, and schedule pickup when ready. With fewer steps, lower costs, and more control, it’s a simpler alternative.
Dorm Room Movers sends a crew into your dorm or apartment to pack and move your belongings. While convenient, it means strangers entering your room and handling personal items.
With Micro-Move Storage, you pack your own boxes on your own schedule, then arrange pickup. Carriers collect them directly, so it’s safer, faster, and more private—especially appealing for female students who prefer not to have movers in their personal space.
Yes, if you only need to store boxes. PODS and U-Box are built for household-size loads and require self-loading plus curb space. Micro-Move Storage is designed for small-scale storage with no container involved.
For small loads, usually yes. Self-storage units are priced for the entire space, even if you only fill part of it. Micro-Move Storage charges by the box, with no wasted space or long-term lock-in.
It’s almost fully automated—simple, private, and easy to manage from your phone or computer.
Items are stored in professional, off-site warehouses, not personal units. Facilities are secure, monitored, and often climate-controlled. Customers don’t visit the warehouse directly—deliveries are requested online.
These services provide an online account. You select the boxes you want returned, choose a delivery date, and they’re shipped back to your door, just like an online order.
Micro-Move Storage is flexible: it usually starts at one box and scales to a few dozen. For larger household loads, containers or movers may be better.
Simply request items online, and they’re delivered to you. You cannot visit the storage facility.
Many providers, including Ship2Storage, offer coverage across U.S. cities by working with national carriers like UPS and FEDEX. Some also support international shipping and storage.
Yes. These students often need storage over breaks but don’t want to rent units or deal with trucks. Many travel long distances to their schools of choice. Micro-Move Storage lets them store and retrieve boxes easily, without extra logistics.
Absolutely. For people between homes, subletting, or traveling, Micro-Move Storage offers a low-hassle way to keep essentials safe and have them delivered back when needed.
Yes. Boxes are kept in professional warehouses with monitoring, and many providers offer optional insurance for added peace of mind.
Micro-Move Storage is for anyone who needs to store 1–10 boxes, short- or long-term. Pricing is by the box, not by the unit, and everything can be managed online.
It’s ideal for:
From the comfort and privacy of your home, you can arrange pickup, storage, and return with minimal effort. It’s low hassle, high reward, and almost autonomous compared to traditional storage.
Ship2Storage is the originator of the Micro-Move Storage model. We created this category to meet a growing demand for storage solutions that are simple, flexible, and made for modern life.