Add up your furniture and boxes to see how much storage space you need and which unit size it fits into.
Nothing on the list matches “”.
Measure it and add it. Round up to the nearest inch.
Volumes assume the standard 8-foot ceiling. The usable figures are how much furniture and boxes each unit realistically holds once you allow for gaps between items.
| Unit | Floor area | Total volume | Holds, packed tight | Holds, with a walkway | Typically fits |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5x5 | 25 sq ft | 200 ft³ | 160 ft³ | 130 ft³ | Boxes, seasonal gear and a few small pieces |
| 5x10 | 50 sq ft | 400 ft³ | 320 ft³ | 260 ft³ | A studio apartment |
| 10x10 | 100 sq ft | 800 ft³ | 640 ft³ | 520 ft³ | A one-bedroom apartment |
| 10x15 | 150 sq ft | 1,200 ft³ | 960 ft³ | 780 ft³ | A two-bedroom apartment |
| 10x20 | 200 sq ft | 1,600 ft³ | 1,280 ft³ | 1,040 ft³ | A three-bedroom home |
| 10x30 | 300 sq ft | 2,400 ft³ | 1,920 ft³ | 1,560 ft³ | A four-bedroom home or larger |
Every item has a typical volume in cubic feet. Furniture figures follow the cube sheets movers use to estimate truck space, and boxes and bins use their actual outside dimensions.
No unit can be filled to the last inch. Even a 10x10 packed with nothing but identical medium moving boxes is only about 81% full, because the boxes don't divide evenly into the walls and ceiling. So the calculator divides your total by 0.80 when you pack tight, or by 0.65 if you leave a walkway, then picks the smallest standard unit that holds the result.
For example, 436 cubic feet of furniture and boxes ÷ 0.80 = 545 cubic feet of space. A 10x10 holds 800, so it fits at about 68% full.
Add up the cubic feet of what you're storing, allow for the gaps between items, and compare the result with unit volumes. The calculator above does this for you: it totals your items, divides by the share of a unit you can realistically fill, and picks the smallest standard unit that covers it.
800 cubic feet, assuming the standard 8-foot ceiling (10 × 10 × 8). You can't fill every inch, so plan on fitting about 640 cubic feet of furniture and boxes when packed tight, or about 520 if you leave a walkway. That's typically the contents of a one-bedroom apartment.
Typically the contents of a three-bedroom home. A 10x20 has 1,600 cubic feet with an 8-foot ceiling, and about 1,280 cubic feet of that is usable when packed tight. If you're also storing large appliances or a garage's worth of gear, check the total with the calculator, since you may need a 10x30.
A rented, lockable space for belongings you don't have room for at home or at work. Units come in a range of sizes and are usually rented month to month, so you can leave when you no longer need the space.
Homeowners and renters mid-move, people renovating, students between terms, and small businesses storing stock, records, or equipment. Anyone needing space for longer than a garage can spare.
The 5x10 is the most common, making up roughly a quarter of rentals according to SpareFoot's 2023 figures. The 10x10 is close behind and tends to suit the contents of a one- or two-bedroom apartment.
Most offer gated access, cameras, individual locks, and lit corridors. Some add on-site staff during business hours and per-unit alarms. Security varies between facilities, so it's worth asking what's included before signing.
Usually yes, and some facilities require it. Check your existing home or renter's policy first — off-site storage is sometimes already covered. If it isn't, facilities generally sell a plan at the time of rental.
It's a planning figure, not a guarantee. Furniture volumes follow the cube sheets movers use to estimate truck space, and boxes use their actual outside dimensions. The calculator assumes 8-foot ceilings and that about 80% of a unit is usable when packed tight, or 65% with a walkway. Odd shapes, very large pieces, and things you need to reach often can change the real number, so confirm the size with the facility before you rent.