Every May, thousands of UC Berkeley students face the same problem: the semester ends, move-out is mandatory, and you have nowhere to put your stuff.
Flying home to LA, Seattle, or Shanghai with five boxes isn’t realistic. Renting a storage unit in Berkeley means paying $150-$250 a month all summer for space you can’t easily access. And asking a friend to hold your stuff is a favor you’d rather not ask.
There’s a better way. Ship2Storage lets UC Berkeley students ship their boxes directly to a climate-controlled facility, store them for as long as needed, and get them delivered anywhere in the U.S. when they’re ready. No truck, no storage unit, no hassle.
The Berkeley Move-Out Problem Nobody Warns You About
UC Berkeley’s on-campus housing contracts typically end in mid-May, right when finals are wrapping up. That means you’re expected to be fully out of your dorm or campus apartment at one of the most stressful moments of the academic year.
Off-campus students often face similar pressure. Leases that don’t align with fall move-in, sublets that require you to be out by June 1, and landlords who don’t offer summer storage options are all common in the Berkeley rental market.
The result: a hard deadline, a pile of boxes, and no clear plan.
Why a Storage Unit Near Berkeley Doesn’t Make Sense
Self-storage facilities near UC Berkeley typically run $150 to $250 per month for a small unit. Over a three-month summer, that’s $450 to $750 for the privilege of keeping your stuff in a facility you’ll probably visit once or twice.
There’s also the logistics problem. You need a car or a truck to get your boxes there, and you need to do it during one of the most chaotic weeks of the year. Then you need to do it again in reverse at the end of August.
For most students, it’s not worth it.
How Ship2Storage Works for UC Berkeley Students
- Pack your boxes using standard moving boxes.
- Print a prepaid shipping label from your Ship2Storage account.
- Drop your boxes at any UPS or FedEx location near campus, or schedule a pickup.
- Your boxes arrive at our climate-controlled facility in Kansas, where they’re barcoded and tracked.
- When you’re ready in August or September, log in and tell us where to send them. We ship directly to your new dorm, apartment, or any U.S. address.
You don’t need a car. You don’t need to coordinate a truck. You just need a box and a label.
What UC Berkeley Students Typically Store
Most students store three to eight boxes of items they don’t need over the summer but don’t want to haul home. Common items include:
- Bedding, pillows, and extra clothes
- Books, binders, and course materials
- Electronics and chargers you won’t need over the summer
- Kitchen items from off-campus apartments
- Seasonal gear — jackets, rain boots, umbrellas
- Decorations and personal items
We don’t require you to fill an entire unit. You pay per box, so if you have four boxes, you pay for four boxes.
Flying Home for the Summer? Here’s the Plan
If you’re heading back to Southern California, another state, or another country, Ship2Storage is especially useful. Rather than checking extra bags or shipping boxes to your parents’ house only to ship them back in September, you store them with us and have them delivered directly to your new Berkeley address in the fall.
International students flying home to China, South Korea, India, or elsewhere can store their belongings in the U.S. over summer without worrying about customs, airline fees, or whether their family has room. Everything stays here, organized and ready to ship when you return.
Getting Your Boxes Back in the Fall
When you’re ready to move in to your fall housing, log into your Ship2Storage account and enter your new delivery address. We’ll ship your boxes directly to you, typically within a few days.
If your new address isn’t confirmed yet, that’s fine. You can update your delivery address any time before we ship. Nothing moves until you say so.
FAQ
Do you pick up from UC Berkeley dorms?
We don’t offer door-to-door pickup, but you can schedule a UPS or FedEx pickup from your dorm or drop boxes at any nearby location. There are several drop-off options within walking distance of the Berkeley campus.
How early should I ship my boxes before move-out?
You can ship any time before your move-out deadline. We recommend giving yourself two to three days before you actually need to be out, so you’re not rushing at the last minute.
Can I get my boxes delivered to a new address in the fall?
Yes. When you’re ready, just log in and enter your fall address. Your boxes can be shipped to any U.S. address, including a new dorm, an off-campus apartment, or a different city entirely.
What if I’m doing a summer internship in another city?
Ship2Storage is perfect for that situation. Store your Berkeley boxes with us, ship a smaller set of essentials to your internship city, and have your full storage delivered to your fall address in September.
Start storing your boxes with Ship2Storage
Get Pricing + Start an Order