When you’re looking to rent a self storage unit, one of the key questions you’re likely to have is what size storage unit do I need?
Self storage units are available in small, medium and large sizes to suit a number of needs. Whether you’re moving home and need somewhere to store your belongings for a few weeks or you want somewhere to store additional belongings over the long term, getting the right size storage unit will make sure you’re getting the most from your storage and so you’re not wasting money on a space that’s too big.
What should you consider when choosing the right storage unit size?
To make sure the unit you choose is big enough for your belongings (but not too big), there are a few things you should take into consideration.
What do you want to put into storage?
If you’re thinking about renting a storage unit, you probably already have an idea of the types of items you’d like to store. Whatever the reason for needing a storage unit, deciding on what you want to store is important and the first step to determine the size you’ll need.
Once you’ve got a rough idea of the number of items you want to store and their size, you can start to calculate the size you might need. We recommend making a list of all of the items you’re planning to put into storage so that you can remember what you’ve got once it’s all packed up.
Utilise existing storage at home
Before you invest in a storage unit, make sure you’re making use of all the storage space you have at home and that you’re using it efficiently. Is there anything you can sell, recycle or get rid of to create extra closet space? This can save you money over the long term on storage fees and make sure you don’t find that you could have rented a smaller and cheaper storage unit later down the line.
Calculate the space required
Once you know what’s going into storage, you can either box everything up or stack it together to measure the space you’re likely to need. When choosing a storage space, you’ll need one of two measurements to determine the right size:
- Square feet – multiply the length and width of your belongings. If they create a pile that measures 5×5, you know this is the size storage unit you need or you’ll need at least 25 square feet.
- Cubic feet – multiply the length, width and height of your belongings. If you have a pile that measures 5x5x5 feet, you will need a storage unit with at least 75 cubic feet of space.
There’s no wrong or right way to measure your stuff but it can help you to get an understanding of the size of the unit you might need.
Choose the best storage unit to meet your needs
After you’ve measured everything you can decide whether you need a small, medium or large unit. Making sure you’re only storing the items you really need will mean you only need to rent a small unit and won’t have to pay more than you need to.
If you’re looking for longer term storage, when calculating the space required, you’ll also need to consider whether you will expect to add more belonging in the future. It’s more cost effective to rent a single, larger unit than it will be to rent two separate units if you decide you need more space in the future.
How much access will you need to your belongings?
When choosing a unit, you’ll also need to think about how you’re going to use the space. If it’s a short term solution while you move house or downsize, you can load your space up until it’s full.
However, if you’re going to need to get things in and out of your unit regularly, it might be better to have a slightly bigger space than is required for your belongings so you can easily take items in and out without having to unpack the whole unit.
If you only need access to certain items, you can pack your unit so these are easy for you to grab when you need.
What size storage units are available?
To help you choose the right size storage unit, we have provided more details of the sizes available from East Bank Storage.
Small units
Small units are perfect for storing additional items that won’t fit into storage for your home. Common uses of a small unit include:
- Storage for holiday decorations
- Storage for yard tools
- Storage for children’s clothes, toys or furniture
- Providing more space at home
- Additional space when remodelling your home
5×5 storage unit
This is the smallest space on offer and is similar to a small closet. It will be able to hold a piece of furniture with a narrow footprint and items such as lamps, or 6-8 boxes. There is around 25 square feet and 200 cubic feet of storage. Items that will fit into a space of this size include:
- A full size mattress
- A Christmas tree
- A Dresser
- Chairs
5×10 storage unit
This size unit is similar to a walk in closet.
A 5×10 storage unit provides 50 square feet and 400 cubic feet of space. Items that can be held include:
- King and queen sized mattresses
- A dresser
- A couch
- A refrigerator
Medium sized storage unit
Medium sized storage units are perfect if you’re looking to store larger items or if you need more space than a closet.
5×15 storage unit
These units are equivalent to the size of a small bedroom and provide 75 square feet and 600 cubic feet of storage space.
These spaces are popular for anyone moving out of a small apartment or condo and can store:
- Bedroom furniture
- A couch
- A desk
- A kitchen table and chairs
- A washer and dryer
- A Refrigerator
10×10 storage unit
This is comparable to an average sized bedroom and offers 100 square feet and 800 cubic feet of space.
These units are commonly used to store the contents of a one or two bedroom apartment and can hold:
- The contents of two bedrooms
- The contents of an entire living room
- Kitchen or dining room furniture
- Appliances
Large storage units
Large storage units are perfect if you need a huge amount of space.
10×15 storage unit
These units provide 150 square feet and 1,200 cubic feet of storage space which can hold several bedrooms worth of items, plus additional items.
They can be used to store:
- The contents of two or three bedrooms
- Living room furniture
- The contents of a garage
- Equipment and materials for business storage
- A large quantity of boxes
10×20 storage unit
This is the largest storage unit on offer at East Bank storage and offers around 200 square feet and 1,600 cubic feet of storage space.
Items that can be stored include:
- Living room furniture
- Kitchen or digging room furniture
- Multiple sets of bedroom furniture
- Patio furniture
To find out more about storage size space, you can use our storage tool or speak to our team today, we’re always happy to help.
