Picking out the correct size storage for house furniture, personal items, or work tools can be a bit of a challenge. You want to get as close as possible to the ideal storage size out of the gate both to save money as well as the time it would take to switch units.
The good news is that storage sizes are pretty standard across the board. If you search for “indoor storage near me,” chances are all the businesses that pop up will have choices ranging from a 5×5 storage locker to a 10×30 storage unit – and many sizes in between. So the burden is on you to figure out what you need, how often you need to access it, and how close you want it to your home or workplace before you sign a contract.
Don’t know where to start? Keep reading to learn how to right size your storage unit.
Assess Your Needs and Priorities: Your Storage Goals
The first order of business is to sit down and decide what you really need out of a storage unit and, perhaps more importantly, what your priorities are. Ask yourself:
- Do I want quick and easy access?
- A high level of security?
- A drive-up unit?
- Climate-controlled storage?
Also think about what kind of self-storage provider you would entrust your items with. Consider the pros and cons of renting with a national company vs. a local mom and pop. Will you want to take advantage of on-site moving supplies or the use of a free moving truck? Do you anticipate your self-storage needs changing and, if so, does the provider have other options or locations to choose from?
Another point to consider is what you’re storing. Furniture storage needs will be different from boat storage needs. Make sure your chosen spot fits your requirements today – and into the future – to ensure you’re getting the most out of your storage unit.
Take Inventory: The Curious Case of Clutter
Once you’ve decided on your storage goals, it’s time to take inventory of your belongings. We recommend setting aside items you need for daily living and then sorting the rest into piles for storage, donation, and recycling or trash. This helps you cut down on clutter by getting a clear idea of what you have, what you want or need to hang onto, and what you can afford to let go to the next person.
Even if you’re in the market for big storage units, be mindful about what you decide to keep in them and how you organize your belongings. At the minimum, you will want to store the items you need frequently in a place that is easy to access such as right next to the door. Read our recent piece on how to prepare and organize a storage unit for more helpful info.
Choose the Right Size: A Size for Every Story
Choosing between storage sizes can be a bit of a headache. If you find yourself pondering questions like, “How big is a 10×30 storage unit?” or “How much stuff can a 10×15 storage unit fit?” – you’re not alone. Even the most mathematically minded person can struggle to calculate the volume of their belongings.
Keep scrolling for some basic guidelines or check out our size guide for more details.
What can a 5×5 unit store?
A 5×5 unit is five feet wide, five feet long, and 8 feet tall, which provides 200 cubic feet of space. This roughly translates into 5 to 8 boxes or what would fit into a small hallway closet.
What can a 10×10 unit store?
A 10×10 storage unit is the same height as a 5×5 unit but is 10 feet wide and 10 feet long. This translates to 800 cubic feet of space, which is about the size of a one-car garage. If your items can fit in a 12-foot moving truck, you should be all set with a 10×10 unit. Check out our post on what fits in a 10×10 unit for more details.
What can a 10×20 unit store?
A 10×20 unit provides 1600 cubic feet of space, which can hold the contents of a medium-sized house or large apartment. You can also use this size for small to medium-sized vehicles, including motorcycles, or even a small boat or other personal watercraft.
Pack Strategically: Tetris Masterclass
Regardless of which storage size you choose, you need to pack strategically in order to maximize the space you’ve rented. If you excelled at Tetris, then this is a task you might truly enjoy. For best results, we suggest the following:
- Make a list of the belongings you want to store
- Estimate the size and number of boxes you’ll be storing
- Consult our storage unit size guide for advice on what items fit in different storage sizes
- Use masking tape to mark the length and width of the storage unit you think you need on the floor in your home and stack boxes or items in it to see how they fit
Keep an Inventory List
To keep your storage unit organized over time, it is important to keep an ongoing inventory list in an easily accessible place, like a phone or notebook you keep in the car. Update the list as you move items in and out so that you always know exactly where your belongings are at all times. It can be easy to lose track of belongings in the hubbub of daily life, so this is one area where an ounce of prevention is truly worth a pound of cure.
Reassess Your Storage Needs Regularly
Over time, you may discover that you can downsize to a smaller unit or that you actually have more items to store than you initially expected. Keep an eye on your inventory list for pieces that can be donated or passed down for use today. It can be tempting to hold on to everything “just in case,” but some belongings may not be worth the cost to move or store them over a long period of time.
Seek Expert Advice
There are likely professional organizers in your town or city that will be able to help you get a handle on your items either before or after moving them into storage. Pros won’t have the emotional attachment to your belongings the way a family member or friend might and might be able to provide advice about their market value. Some take on the tasks of listing pieces for sale online, hiring trash haulers or movers, or even driving donations to the thrift store – all of which can save you time and provide peace of mind.
Tips to Maximize Space while Minimizing Cost
Our final tips are perhaps the most important: how to get the most out of your storage space for the least amount of cost. No one wants to overpay for a situation where it’s hard to access their belongings.
Prioritize Accessibility
Make absolutely sure that you can safely get to your items when you need them. Be realistic with yourself about how often (and at what times of day or night) you’ll need to get into your storage unit and where you need it to be located.
Avoid Overpacking
It can be tempting to pack your storage unit to its absolute max capacity in order to avoid sizing up. Not only is this unsafe for you or anyone else who will be in your unit, but it can also damage your items and make them extremely difficult to access.
Convenience
Convenience goes hand in hand with accessibility. Consider where you would want your storage unit in an ideal world. Storage spaces are like gyms: the farther away they are from your normal stomping grounds, the less you’ll visit them. This may be fine for long-term or seasonal storage, but is generally more hassle than it’s worth for items you expect to need regularly.
Right-sizing your storage unit is an art and a science. If you have any questions or would like some friendly advice, don’t be shy about stopping by your local “indoor storage near me” provider CubeSmart, and speaking to an on-site manager. We’ve seen – and stored – it all and are happy to help you find the best solution.
