The Complete Guide to Fitted Units for UK Tradespeople
Van storage drawers keep your tools organised, secure, and instantly accessible on every job. If you run a single van or manage a fleet, the right drawer system turns wasted cargo space into a proper mobile workshop.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what to expect from a professional fit, what it costs, how to choose the right unit, and why Giant Van builds systems that last. Message us in the live chat for a free, no-obligation quote.
Giant Van fits van storage drawers across the UK, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Belfast. Mobile fitting is available for qualifying fleet bookings.
Contact us in the live chat to confirm coverage in your area and to book a fitting appointment at the nearest installation centre.
- £500Transit Insurance
- Same DayAvailability
Local Property Guide
Understanding the property mix helps us plan the right crew size, van, and equipment for your move.
Your Storage Options Explained
Van storage drawers are fitted, lockable units installed directly into your van's load area. They replace loose toolboxes, jumbled bags, and sliding equipment with fixed, slide-out compartments that stay exactly where you put them. Each drawer sits on a steel frame anchored to the van floor or wheel-arch structure, so the unit does not move during transit.
You need them if any of the following applies to you. Your tools move around in the back and you waste time finding what you need on site. You carry expensive equipment that needs to be secured against theft. You want a professional appearance when a customer opens your van doors.
You are buying a second van and need a consistent setup across both vehicles.
The core benefit is time. A properly designed drawer system means you reach for a tool and it is there, in the same place it was yesterday and the day before. Tradespeople who switch from unorganised loads to fitted drawers typically report saving 20 to 30 minutes per working day simply by not hunting for equipment.
Drawer systems are not the same as racking. Racking holds materials vertically on shelving. Drawers hold small to medium tools horizontally at floor or mid-height level, where you can open a single drawer and see everything inside in one glance. Many van builds combine both: drawers at the base, racking above.
Smart Route Planning for Storage
Pricing for van storage drawers in the UK varies based on van size, number of drawers, material choice, and if you add locking mechanisms or a worktop surface.
The following figures reflect current fitted prices from Giant Van and represent typical market rates for professional installations.
A basic two-drawer unit in a small panel van such as a Ford Transit Connect starts from around £350 fitted.
A mid-range three- to four-drawer system in a medium van such as a Ford Transit Custom or Volkswagen Transporter typically costs between £550 and £900 fitted.
A full rear-load build with five or more drawers, a side unit, and an integrated worktop in a large van such as a Ford Transit or Mercedes-Benz Sprinter runs from £1,100 to £1,800 or more.
Material choice affects cost.
Aluminium-faced units are lighter and resist moisture, making them popular with electricians and plumbers.
Steel powder-coated systems are heavier but exceptionally durable, preferred by builders and groundworkers.
Phenolic-board units sit between the two on price and offer good impact resistance.
Lead times for standard builds are typically 3 to 7 working days.
Custom configurations with bespoke drawer sizing or branding take 10 to 14 working days.
All Giant Van installations include a one-year fitting warranty, and most drawer mechanisms carry a separate manufacturer guarantee of three to five years.
Start a live chat to get a fixed written quote for your specific van and requirements.
Van Storage Drawer Pricing Guide
All prices below are for supply and professional fitting, including survey, materials, labour, fixings, and a one-year warranty. Prices are correct as of 2026 and are fixed at the point of written quotation.
Small van (e.g. Ford Transit Connect, Vauxhall Combo): 2-drawer base unit from £350 fitted. 3-drawer unit from £520 fitted.
Medium van (e.g. Ford Transit Custom, VW Transporter, Renault Trafic): 3-drawer unit from £600 fitted. 4-drawer unit with side cabinet from £820 fitted. Full rear build with worktop from £1,050 fitted.
Large van (e.g. Ford Transit, Mercedes Sprinter, Vauxhall Movano): 4-drawer base unit from £750 fitted. 5-drawer full-width system from £1,100 fitted. Bespoke rear build with drawers, racking, and worktop from £1,400 fitted.
Fleet pricing: three or more vans booked simultaneously receive a fleet discount. Contact us in the live chat for a fleet quote. Lead times for standard builds are 3 to 7 working days. All installations include a one-year fitting warranty and a manufacturer slide-mechanism guarantee of 3 to 5 years depending on spec.
All prices include a fully insured crew, van, and moving blankets. Packing services available as add-ons.
Work Out Your Moving CostBefore Storage Begins: Key Advice
Start by listing the ten tools or items you reach for most often. These should live in the top drawers, at the easiest access height.
Shallow drawers of 100mm to 150mm suit small hand tools, fixings, and meters. Medium drawers of 200mm to 300mm work well for power tools in their cases. Deep drawers of 400mm or more are suitable for bulky equipment, cable reels, or stock items. Getting this wrong means drawers that are either half empty or overloaded.
Cheaper systems handle 30kg to 50kg per drawer. Professional-grade units rated at 75kg to 100kg per drawer handle power tools and heavy stock without the slides bending over time. Ask for the rated load before you commit.
A drawer that stays shut during transit is not the same as a drawer that resists forced entry. Look for drawer locks that are keyed alike so you carry one key for the whole system.
A Giant Van surveyor measures your exact load bay dimensions before building, accounting for wheel-arch intrusions, floor channel positions, and door swing clearance. Off-the-shelf units bought online often need modification to fit, which adds hidden cost.
How Removals Work
- 01
Tell us about your move
Enter your collection and delivery addresses, select your property size, and list any large items. See a fixed price in under 60 seconds.
- 02
Choose your moving day
Pick a date and time slot that works for you. Add packing materials or extra helpers if you need them.
- 03
Relax while we move you in
A fully insured crew arrives on time, wraps and loads your belongings, and delivers everything to your new home.
Storage: No Hidden Fees
When you book a van storage drawer installation with Giant Van, the price includes a pre-build survey, all materials, labour, fixings, and a post-fit inspection.
Here is a breakdown of what each stage covers.
Pre-build survey: a technician measures your exact van load bay, noting floor condition, anchor points, and any manufacturer-drilled holes.
This takes 20 to 30 minutes and ensures the unit fits correctly on the first attempt.
Custom build: your drawers are cut and assembled to the survey dimensions.
Each unit uses 9mm or 12mm phenolic board, steel extrusion frames, or aluminium carcasses depending on your specification.
Drawer slides are steel ball-bearing runners rated to the advertised load capacity.
Installation: the completed unit is bolted to the van floor using M8 or M10 stainless steel hardware through existing anchor points where possible, or through floor reinforcement plates where they are not.
No structural welding is required.
Finishing: drawer fronts are fitted with handles and locks.
If you have chosen a worktop surface, it is secured at this stage.
Cable entry points are cut where required for electricians or audio installers.
Post-fit inspection: a second technician checks every drawer opens and closes cleanly under load, all fixings are torqued correctly, and no sharp edges are exposed inside the cargo area.
You receive a fitting certificate and usage guide.
Fleet customers receive a standardised build sheet so future vans are fitted identically.
Message us on live chat to book a survey.
DIY Move vs Professional Removal
DIY Move
- Van hire: £80–200 per day plus fuel
- No transit insurance for belongings
- Physical effort and injury risk
- Friends needed — plans fall through
- Multiple trips if van too small
Professional Removal
- Fixed price — no surprise charges
- £500 goods-in-transit insurance
- Trained crew handles heavy items
- Right-sized van every time
- Furniture blankets and straps provided
Steps to Book Storage
- 01
Getting van storage drawers fitted through Giant Van follows a clear four-step process.
- 02
You do not need to prepare anything technical before calling.
- 03
Step one: call or use the online contact form to request a quote.
- 04
Have your van's make, model, year, and current load-bay configuration to hand.
- 05
If you are not sure about any of this, the registration number is enough to start.
- 06
Step two: a Giant Van advisor calls you back, usually within two hours on working days, to discuss your trade, what you carry, and your preferred drawer configuration.
- 07
You will receive a written fixed-price quote by email, typically within 24 hours.
- 08
Step three: book your fitting appointment.
Popular UK Removal Routes
London → Nottingham
128 miles via the M1, around 2h 20m on the road.
From £349
London → Southampton
79 miles via the M3, around 1h 35m on the road.
From £279
London → Bournemouth
Distance, drive time and fixed prices for the London to Bournemouth move.
Get a fixed price in 60 seconds
London → Edinburgh
400 miles via the M1/A1(M), around 7h on the road.
From £599
Edinburgh → Aberdeen
Distance, drive time and fixed prices for the Edinburgh to Aberdeen move.
Get a fixed price in 60 seconds
Edinburgh → Dundee
Distance, drive time and fixed prices for the Edinburgh to Dundee move.
Get a fixed price in 60 seconds
Beyond Your Town: Storage Nationwide
The UK van conversion market has grown significantly over the past four years.
According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, light commercial vehicle registrations in the UK exceeded 355,000 units in 2025, with a large proportion going to sole traders and small businesses in the construction, electrical, and plumbing sectors.
As tool theft continues to rise, with the Metropolitan Police reporting a 14% increase in commercial vehicle break-ins between 2023 and 2025, demand for both secure storage and visible deterrents has increased sharply.
Van storage drawers sit at the intersection of two trends: theft prevention and operational efficiency.
The average cost of a single tool theft incident in the UK is estimated at £2,000 to £3,500 when accounting for both equipment replacement and lost working time, according to insurer Hiscox's 2024 tradesperson survey.
A fitted drawer system with key-alike locking adds a meaningful physical barrier while keeping COSHH-compliant storage in order for hazardous materials.
The UK market has also seen growth in second-hand van conversions.
Tradespeople buying a used van with an existing fit now frequently ask converters to audit and modify the previous build rather than start from scratch. Giant Van handles these audit and modification jobs as a standard service, assessing the structural soundness of existing fixings before extending the system.
A Note From Our Drivers
Our drivers navigate local streets daily, handling everything from narrow terraced house access to large detached properties. Every move is treated with care because our reputation depends on it.
Giant Van operations
Why Customers Choose Us for Storage
Giant Van has built van storage drawer systems for sole traders, SME fleets, and national contractors across the UK. The team specialises exclusively in commercial vehicle conversions, which means every advisor and technician works with van load bays every working day. This is not a side service offered by a general workshop.
Fixed pricing is a consistent reason customers cite. The quote you receive before booking is the price you pay. There are no day-rate labour surprises, no material uplift charges, and no call-out fees for the initial survey.
Build quality standards are consistent. Giant Van uses the same drawer-slide mechanism across every build: a full-extension steel ball-bearing runner that operates smoothly at maximum load and does not develop play over time. The same phenolic board or aluminium carcass materials are used regardless of whether the job is a single Transit Connect or a ten-van Sprinter fleet.
Lead times are reliable. Most single-van builds are completed and returned within five working days of the booking date. Fleet builds are scheduled as a production run with a confirmed handover date agreed in advance.
After-fit support is available by phone. If a drawer slide develops a fault or a lock mechanism sticks within the warranty period, call and a technician will diagnose and rectify the issue. Giant Van does not redirect warranty calls to manufacturers.
£500
Transit Insurance
Accredited
Industry Certified
When Is the Best Time to Move?
UK moving demand follows seasonal patterns. Off-peak months typically offer lower prices and more crew availability.
Storage: Best Days of the Week
Understanding the alternatives helps you make the right decision for your work pattern.
If your load is dominated by long items rather than hand tools, racking alone may serve you better than drawers. Many builds combine both: a racker above and drawers below.
A single pull-out tray on a steel frame costs less than a full drawer system and suits a plumber carrying ten core items rather than an electrician with 60 different components.
These are removable and transferable between vans, which suits business owners who replace vehicles frequently. The trade-off is that modular systems do not use the load bay space as efficiently as a custom-built fitted unit.
A shelving fit is faster and cheaper to install but offers no drawer-style access and less theft resistance.
An advisor will ask about your work type, typical load, and budget and recommend the right combination without pushing you toward a more expensive option than you need.
Van Storage Drawers vs. Alternatives: Which System Is Right for You?
The table below covers the five most common systems fitted in UK working vans.
Provides maximum organisation and theft resistance. Custom-fitted to the van. Cost: £350 to £1,800+. Transferable to a new van? Partly, if dimensions match. Locking as standard: yes.
Holds long items efficiently. Lower tool organisation. Cost: £300 to £900. Locking: optional.
Full load bay utilisation. Cost: £900 to £2,200. Most popular configuration for established sole traders with Transit-size vans.
Fully transferable. Lower security. Cost: £150 to £600. Suits parcel delivery or light-duty trade use.
Lowest cost entry point. Single tray, no compartmentalisation. Cost: £120 to £350 fitted.
Message us in the live chat to confirm which system fits your specific load.
Van storage drawers transform the rear of a working van from a chaotic pile of tools into a structured, accessible workspace.
The right system saves time on every job, protects expensive equipment from theft and damage, and presents a professional image to customers who see inside your vehicle.
If you need a basic two-drawer unit in a Connect or a full rear conversion in a Sprinter, the configuration should match your actual work pattern rather than a generic template.
Giant Van builds to your exact van dimensions and trade requirements, with fixed pricing and a one-year fitting warranty included.
If you are ready to get a quote or want to talk through what a van storage drawer system would look like in your specific vehicle, call the Giant Van team in the live chat.
Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Alternatively, use the contact form on this page and an advisor will call you back within two hours on working days.
Fixed quotes are issued by email within 24 hours of your initial call.
No commitment is required to receive a quote.
Removals in Nearby Areas
- Man and Van
- House Removals
- Office Removals
- Packing Materials
- Van Hire
- Furniture Delivery
- International Removals
- Student Removals
- Long-Distance
- Removals by Town
- Removals Near Me by Area
- More Guides
- Cost Calculator
- Compare Options
- Moving Guides
- Locations
- About Us
- UK Moving Cost Report
- Our Methodology
- Editorial Standards
The Complete Guide to Fitted Units for UK Tradespeople — FAQs
How long does it take to fit van storage drawers?
Most single-van storage drawer installations take four to six hours at a Giant Van fitting centre. Full rear builds with drawers, racking, and a worktop surface may take a full working day. Fleet installations are scheduled as production runs with confirmed handover dates.
From your first enquiry to collecting a completed van, the typical turnaround is five to ten working days.
Can van storage drawers be moved to a new van?
Fitted van storage drawers are built to specific load bay dimensions and are not straightforwardly transferable between different van models. If you upgrade to the same model, a refitting is possible in most cases. If you switch to a different van, a new build is the standard approach.
Giant Van retains your build specification so a replacement van can be fitted to the same configuration quickly.
Are van storage drawers secure against theft?
Professional-grade van storage drawers with key-alike cylinder locks provide a meaningful physical barrier against opportunistic theft. They are not rated as security safes, but they substantially slow access compared to an unlocked loose toolbox. Combining lockable drawers with a van deadlock and dark window covers gives the strongest deterrent available without structural reinforcement of the van body itself.
What van makes and models does Giant Van fit storage drawers to?
Giant Van fits storage drawer systems to all mainstream UK panel van makes, including Ford Transit, Transit Custom, and Connect; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and Vito; Volkswagen Transporter and Crafter; Vauxhall Movano and Combo; Renault Trafic and Master; Citroen Berlingo, Dispatch, and Relay; Peugeot Partner and Expert; and Fiat Ducato.
If your van is not listed, message us in the live chat to confirm compatibility.
Do van storage drawers affect the van's payload capacity?
Yes. A fitted storage drawer system adds weight to the van, which reduces available payload. A typical two- to three-drawer base unit in phenolic board weighs 35kg to 65kg. An aluminium system is 15% to 25% lighter for the same configuration.
Giant Van advisors will check your van's payload against your intended loaded weight during the survey stage to ensure compliance with UK vehicle weight regulations.
Can I add a worktop above my van storage drawers?
Yes. A worktop surface fitted above the drawer unit is one of the most popular additions to a van storage drawer build. Worktops are typically cut from 18mm or 25mm phenolic board or faced with a laminate surface. They provide a flat working area for measuring, cutting, or writing paperwork on site.
Integrated cable ports and vice mounts are available as optional additions to the worktop build.
Will van storage drawers damage my van or void its warranty?
A professional installation using existing manufacturer anchor points or correctly rated floor reinforcement plates does not void a standard van warranty. Giant Van uses stainless steel M8 or M10 fixings and does not drill through structural body panels. However, warranty implications depend on your specific manufacturer and dealer.
We recommend checking your van warranty documentation before booking a conversion, and we can provide a fitting specification document on request.
What is the difference between cheap and professional van storage drawers?
Budget van storage drawer units typically use lower-grade steel slides rated at 30kg to 40kg per drawer, thinner carcass board, and basic cam locks. Over 12 to 18 months of daily use, slides develop play, boards flex under load, and lock cylinders wear.
Professional units use full-extension ball-bearing slides rated to 75kg to 100kg, 9mm to 12mm phenolic or aluminium carcasses, and key-alike cylinder locks. The difference is measurable in both daily usability and service life.
Related Locations and Services
- Advice — First Night Box Essentials
- Advice — How to Label Moving Boxes
- Advice — How to Pack for a House Move
- Advice — Moving Boxes
- Advice — Removals Company Vs Diy
- Advice — What Size Van Do I Need
- Advice — Moving House Checklist Uk
- Advice — Comparison
- Advice — Motorcycle Transport
- Advice — Location Service Luton
- Advice
Sources and further reading
These are the official UK sources that set the rules for a job like this one. Each link goes straight to the source so you can check it yourself. Links open in a new tab.
- Self Storage Association UK
The UK trade body for self-storage operators, and where to check the standards a facility works to.
- Consumer Rights Act 2015, s.49 (reasonable care and skill)
Section 49 of the Consumer Rights Act 2015: a service you pay for must be carried out with reasonable care and skill.
- Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013
The regulations covering what a trader must tell you before you book, and your right to cancel a service booked online or by phone.
All links checked on or after 1 August 2026.
Compiled by the Giant Van editorial team
Giant Van Ltd is registered in England and Wales, company number 16071027.