What Size Storage Unit Do I Need? A Simple Size Guide

Most people need a 5x10 or 10x10 storage unit. A 5x10 holds the contents of a small bedroom or a dorm room, and a 10x10 fits about one bedroom of furniture plus boxes. For a whole house, or for a move, a 10x20 or larger is usually the right fit.

Picking the right size saves you money and stress. Go too small and you're playing Tetris with a couch. Go too big and you're paying for empty space. Here's how to figure out what you actually need.

What are the most common storage unit sizes?

Storage units are measured in feet, width by depth. A 10x10 is 10 feet wide and 10 feet deep, or 100 square feet. Here's a quick look at what fits in each size:

• 5x5: About the size of a hall closet. Good for seasonal decorations, a few boxes, or small furniture.
• 5x10: About the size of a walk in closet. Fits a twin or full mattress set, a dresser, and several boxes.
• 10x10: About half a one car garage. Holds the furniture from one bedroom or a small apartment, plus boxes.
• 10x15: Fits a two bedroom apartment, including a couch, beds, dressers, and appliances.
• 10x20: About the size of a one car garage. Holds a two to three bedroom home.
• 10x25 and 10x30: Room for a larger home with four or more bedrooms, or business inventory.
• 20x20 and up: Extra large space for big moves, contractors, or commercial storage.

How do you estimate how much space you need?

Start by listing your biggest items first: beds, couches, tables, dressers, and appliances. Those take up the floor space. Boxes and small items can stack on top and around them.

A few tips that help:

1. Count your rooms. As a rough rule, plan on about 50 to 75 square feet per fully furnished room.
2. Use the height. Most units are 8 feet tall. Stacking boxes and standing items like mattresses on end saves a lot of floor space.
3. Leave a walkway. If you'll need to get to things often, leave a path down the middle.
4. Size up if you're unsure. A little extra room makes loading easier and keeps you from cramming things that can break.

Should you choose drive up or climate controlled storage?

It depends on what you're storing.

Drive up units let you back right up to the door and unload. They're great for furniture, tools, yard equipment, and anything heavy or bulky.

Climate controlled units help protect against heat, cold, and humidity. They're the better choice for wood furniture, electronics, photos, documents, and anything you can't replace. That matters a lot in hot, humid places like Mississippi and Alabama, and during cold Midwest winters.

What size storage unit do you need for a move?

For most moves, plan on a 10x15 or 10x20 for a two to three bedroom home. If you're downsizing or staging a house to sell, a 10x10 is often enough for the extra furniture and boxes you want out of the way.

Moving a larger home or a business? Look at 10x25, 10x30, or bigger. Some locations, like My Storage Pearl North in Pearl, Mississippi, have drive up units up to 10x35, and My Storage Pearl South offers oversized units like 20x20 and 12x36.

Where can you find storage units in every size?

My Storage has storage units in communities across the country, with sizes from 5x5 up to extra large drive up units. A few of our newest locations:

• My Storage Mason, Michigan: drive up units from 5x10 to 20x20
• My Storage Columbus, Mississippi: drive up and climate controlled units
• My Storage Vicksburg East, Mississippi: drive up and climate controlled units with 24 hour gate access
• My Storage Laurel West, Mississippi: drive up and climate controlled units from 5x10 to 10x20

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most popular storage unit size?

The 10x10 is one of the most popular sizes. It holds about one bedroom of furniture plus boxes, which works for a lot of moves, renovations, and seasonal storage.

How much fits in a 10x20 storage unit?

A 10x20 usually holds the contents of a two to three bedroom home, including large furniture and appliances.

How tall are storage units?

Most storage units are about 8 feet tall, so you can stack boxes and stand items like mattresses upright to save floor space.

Is it better to get a bigger storage unit?

If you're between two sizes, the larger one is usually worth it. It makes loading easier, protects your things from being crushed, and leaves room to reach items in the back.