Whether you’re decluttering or downsizing your home,move planning, or managing a business supplies inventory, choosing the right self-storage unit size is a key part of putting your strategy into action.
A storage unit that’s too small can lead to cramming boxes, risking damage to your belongings, and making it hard to find what you need.
But if you book a self-storage unit that’s too big, you’re paying for space you’re not using.
Our self storage size guide will go through the most common storage unit sizes and layouts. We’ll offer practical examples of what can fit in each unit size, and review other considerations, amenities, and features that might influence your decision.
And at the end of our storage unit size guide, we’ll show you how to use our signature SelfStorage.com search tool to book a unit near you that has the exact dimensions and features you need.
Small Self-Storage Units
Small self-storage units provide a compact and cost-effective solution for personal storage needs, perfect for those who need a bit more space than they have at home.
Smaller self storage sizes are ideal for storing seasonal items like holiday decorations or summer sports equipment, as well as personal belongings like clothing, books, or small furniture pieces. Small self-storage options can help college students store school supplies during semester breaks, and professionals store extra office supplies.
How big is a storage locker?
A storage locker is a more compact, closet-sized space, typically measuring around 4’x5′ or smaller. They often have lower ceilings than standard storage units. Storage lockers are convenient for storing a few specific items or one large item short-term. And while storage lockers are the most budget-friendly storage option, they offer a limited storage capacity.
What can I fit in a storage locker?
A storage locker is ideal if you only have a few things to put in storage, like a few boxes of seasonal décor, important documents, tools, or maybe some skis, poles, and ski boots. Storage lockers are great options for short-term storage needs when space is at a premium, as they’re one of the cheapest storage units available.
How big is a 5’x5′ Storage Unit?
A 5’x5′ storage unit is one of the smallest standard storage unit sizes available, offering 25 square feet of floor space. A 5×5 is about the size of a large walk-in closet or a small bathroom. Most standard storage units, including the 5×5 unit size, have an 8-foot ceiling height. Taking advantage of that extra vertical space can help expand your storage capacity.
What can I fit in a 5’x5′ storage unit?
You can fit a small mattress set, a dresser, and several boxes. A 5’x5′ self storage unit is an ideal option for stowing away seasonal items like holiday decorations, camping supplies, out-of-season clothing, or garden tools and sports gear that are not in use.
How big is a 5’x10′ Storage Unit?
Stepping up slightly in size, a 5’x10′ storage unit provides 50 square feet of floor space. 5×10 is roughly the size of a medium to large walk-in closet or a small hallway. It’s as wide as a 5×5, but twice as long or deep.
What can I fit in a 5 x 10 storage unit?
If you pack smart, you can fit the furniture from a typical studio apartment or even a one-bedroom apartment, including a queen-size mattress set, dresser, TV, love seat, bike, and several boxes. Or, you could store 30+ regular-size storage boxes.
Can a motorcycle fit in a 5’x10′ storage unit?
Yes. You can store one motorcycle in a 5’x10′ self-storage unit, along with helmets and other equipment. If you need to store multiple motorcycles, you’ll likely need a larger, 10’x10′ or 10’x15′ self storage unit size.
Medium Self-Storage Units
Medium-sized self-storage units offer a significant step up in space and are ideal for home renovations, storing stuff between apartments or small houses, or clearing out the contents of multiple rooms. Medium self-storage can hold the belongings found in a 1 bedroom apartment, 2 bedroom apartment, or even a small house, as long as furniture is broken down and boxes are packed efficiently.
How big is a 5’x15′ storage unit?
A 5’x15′ storage unit is about 75 sq ft. Think of this as being a similar size to a small bedroom.
What can I fit in a 5’x15′ storage unit?
With a 5’x15′ unit, you can store the contents of a one- to two-bedroom apartment, or roughly the furnishings of a small house up to 500 sq ft. This typically includes essential bedroom furniture, a washer and dryer, a refrigerator, a love seat, a television, and a considerable number of boxes. You could estimate fitting over 35 regular-sized storage boxes, along with a few larger furniture items, as long as they’re disassembled.
How big is a 10’x10′ storage unit?
The 10’x10′ storage unit is one of the most popular self storage sizes. A 10×10 offers 100 sq ft of storage space, about the size of an average-sized bedroom or approximately half the floor space of a one-car garage. The 10×10 dimensions give it a square shape, providing versatility for organization and layout options.
What can I fit in a 10×10 storage unit?
A 10’x10′ storage unit can house the contents of two bedrooms and a family or dining room. This includes larger items such as dining sets, entertainment centers, dressers, nightstands, sofas, coffee tables, and bookshelves, often with room left over for additional boxes. If you are maximizing with boxes and have minimal large furniture, you could store up to 40 standard-sized boxes.
Can a car fit in a 10×10 storage unit?
No, a car cannot fit in a 10’x10′ storage unit. You’ll need at least a 10’x20′ storage unit for most cars, trucks, and SUVs. That said, recreational vehicles like ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles can all fit in a 10’x10′ storage unit.
Check out our car storage size guide to find the right size self storage and tips for all your vehicle storage needs.
Large Self-Storage Units
Large storage units are the least popular since they’re big enough to store the contents of an entire two to four-bedroom home. Renters choose these sizes if they’re moving a family to a new home or going on an extended trip or on leave, like military personnel or expats.
How big is a 10’x15′ storage unit?
A 10’x15′ self storage space offers 150 sq ft of storage. Think of this being close to the size of a small one-car garage. The 1-x15 self storage size is a popular choice for those needing to store the contents of multiple rooms or a small apartment.
What can I fit in a 10’x15′ storage unit?
A 10’x15′ self storage unit can fit the furnishings of a two-to three-bedroom bedroom house, including oversize items like large couches, entertainment centers, office furniture, big-screen TVs, dining sets, a refrigerator, and a washer/dryer. Or, you could fit roughly 60 regular-sized boxes.
Can a car fit in a 10’x15′ storage unit?
A small, compact car can fit into a 10’x15′ storage unit, but it might be a tight squeeze. As with the 10’x10′ unit, ATVs, snowmobiles, and motorcycles are a better fit for the 10×15 self storage size.
How big is a 10’x20′ storage unit?
A 10’x20′ storage unit provides 200 square feet of storage space, making it roughly equivalent in size to a standard one-car garage or a small to mid-size bedroom. 10×20 popular self storage size for those needing to store the bulk of a three- to four-bedroom home, or for commercial businesses that need space for inventory and/or equipment.
What can I fit in a 10’x20′ storage unit?
A 10×20 self storage space can hold the furnishings from a three- to four-bedroom house, including larger items like workout equipment, expansive couches, entertainment centers, office furniture, big-screen TVs, dining sets, and major appliances such as a refrigerator and a washer/dryer. If your main focus is storing boxes, you could fit around 100 regular-sized boxes.
Can a car fit in a 10’x20′ storage unit?
Yes, you can fit a car in a 10’x20′ storage unit. That includes sedans, coupes, and even some smaller SUVs. A 10×20 might fit some smaller boats, but larger vehicles like trucks or full-sized vans typically require even more space.
How big is a 10’x25′ storage unit?
A 10’x25′ storage unit offers 250 sq ft of storage space, positioning it between the size of a one-car and a two-car garage. This is a substantial space, suitable for storing the entire contents of a large four-bedroom home.
What can I fit in a 10’x25′ storage unit?
With 250 square feet, you can store the furnishings of a large four-bedroom home. This includes all broken-down bedroom furniture, gym equipment, large sporting items like canoes or kayaks, game room furniture, and large appliances. You can fit up to 300 standard, medium-sized boxes in the 10×25 self-storage size. Or a large truck, small RV/camper, or even a boat will fit nicely into a larger self storage space.
How big is a 10’x30′ storage unit?
A 10’x30′ storage unit is one of the largest self-storage unit sizes on the market, offering 300 square feet of floor space. 300 sq ft is about the size of a standard two-car garage.
What can I fit in a 10’x30′ storage unit?
You can use a 10×30 storage unit size to house the furnishings of a large five-bedroom home. You can typically fit over 300 boxes, potentially more if you’re not storing furniture. A 10×30 self storage unit size is ideal for full house moves when you need to store everything while you’re in between living situations.
Can I fit an RV in a 10’x30′ storage unit?
Yes, many types of RVs do fit in a 10’x30′ storage unit. However, bear in mind that the standard height of a storage unit is 8’ tall. You can usually count on the fact that a smaller, class B motorhome will fit in a 10’x30′ storage unit, but be sure to check the measurements of your specific vehicle.
Factors to consider when choosing a storage unit size
So now that you have a cheat sheet of the most common storage unit sizes and uses. That said, choosing the right self storage unit size goes beyond simply matching your belongings to a floor plan. You’ll want to assess your specific storage needs before you start unit shopping.
Time for our self storage size guide to take a look at considerations beyond just the unit dimensions.
Amount and type of items to be stored
Start by taking an inventory of the belongings you aim to store. Will you be storing large furniture pieces like a king size bed or a full bedroom set, including a chest of drawers and side tables?
Consider bulky appliances, the quantity of boxes you have, and whether any items like Cedar Chests or seasonal décor require specific protection. Storing motorcycles, cars, or larger recreational vehicles will change the unit size required. Even smaller items that can’t be boxed up, like an ironing board or garden tools, can take up extra space. Are you aiming to store large furniture items, or small “household clutter”?
Accessibility and ease of use
Consider how often you’ll need to access your stored items, and what those items are. If you need to load and unload large items in and out of your car, you might need a ground-level unit with drive-up access.
If the storage facility doesn’t offer drive-up options, elevator access can make loading in and out of upper-level units much easier.
Remember that you may end up wanting to swap things in and out, so consider a location that is close to your new home.
Budget for renting a storage unit
Your monthly budget for self-storage unit rental also dictates which self storage size options you can and can’t consider, as larger units are more expensive. But while it’s tempting to rent the smallest, most affordable unit, underestimating your needs can lead to the necessity of renting a second unit.
And since the price per square foot drops for larger units, renting two 5x5s is more expensive than renting one 5×10, even though you’re renting 50 sq ft in both cases. But at the same time, renting a unit that is far too large will result in paying for space you don’t use.
As a general rule, organization experts suggest choosing a slightly larger unit than your initial estimate to be safe. Remember to factor in additional costs for packing supplies, insurance, and any necessary moving truck or equipment rentals for your move-in day.
Consider cubic feet and vertical storage space
While square feet gives you the floor space, cubic feet is the true measure of your storage unit’s capacity. Storage units have vertical space, often with ceilings around 8 feet high.
So if your 10×10 has 100 square feet of floor space and a ceiling height of 8 feet, you’re actually looking at 800 cubic feet of storage. This means you can stack items or implement vertical shelving units to take advantage of your unit’s total volume.
Choose the right storage unit features
You also want to consider which storage features and amenities you need, as storage facilities may not offer all features in all unit sizes. Indoor storage units are generally more protected from the elements than outdoor units, but a drive-up storage unit is almost always outside.
If you’re storing sensitive items like electronics, important documents, or delicate furniture, climate controlled storage or heated storage can prevent damage from extreme temperatures and humidity.
Some units may also offer electric outlets, which can be useful for working, maintaining vehicles, or powering small devices. And if you’re storing valuable items, you may want to inquire about the storage facility’s safety and security features, like video surveillance cameras, electronic gates, and passcode entry.
Self Storage Size Guide: How SelfStorage.com Can Help You Find the Storage Unit Size You Need
Hopefully, you have a better idea of what size storage unit you need. But size is just the first step. Depending on what you’re actually storing, there are other features that may be non-negotiable.
But how do you find a self storage unit that’s the exact size you need, has all the right features, and is close enough to your house or job to still be a convenient storage solution?
You’ve come to the right place.
From security to climate control to electricity and everything in between, convenient self storage with comprehensive amenities is easier than ever to find at a cost that fits your budget.
Just punch your zip code into our SelfStorage.com search tool, and we’ll help you find facilities with the exact unit sizes and amenities you’re looking for. You can keep reading our blog articles to learn more about specific self storage topics.
And you can always give our storage experts a call at (512) 705-6208 to get personalized help.
