How to Choose the Right-Sized Storage Unit for Your Needs

How to Choose the Right-Sized Storage Unit for Your Needs

When looking for a self-storage unit to store your belongings, size really does matter.

If your storage space is too small:

• Stuff will be crammed or jammed inside
• You won’t have room to move around
• You may need to rent additional storage units

And if your storage rental is too big, you’re going to be paying for extra space you don’t need.

So finding the right-sized unit is as important as finding the right business to store and protect your items.

Thinking about renting with Ten Mini Storage? Here are some helpful, easy-to-follow tips on picking the unit size that’s best for you.

Know what unit sizes are available (and what they hold)

Any self-storage unit at #10 Mini Storage will hold a little more than you think.

For example, a 5×10 storage unit is around the size of a walk-in closet. But in that space, you can store a queen-sized bed, dresser, TV and several boxes too.

With that in mind, here are the most common self-storage unit sizes you’ll come across:

Dimensions	Comparable Size	Content Storage (Approximate)
5 x 8	Bedroom closet	Dresser Office file boxes Small furniture Personal items
5 x 10	Walk-in closet	Dresser Dining room set Boxes Single mattress set
10 x 10	Half a standard one-car garage	Contents of an entire family room Two full bedrooms Several small/medium-sized boxes
10 x 15	Small standard one-car garage	Contents of three full bedrooms Piano Couches Tables Several medium/large-sized boxes
8 x 20	Large bedroom	Car Contractor supplies
10 x 20	Standard one-car garage	Contents of a multi-bedroom house Couch Fridge Washer/Dryer Dining room set Large boxes
10 x 25	Large one-car garage	Contents of a fully furnished 3 bedroom house Couch Mattress sets Dressers Fridges Dining room set Entertainment centre Several large boxes
10 x 30	Standard 1 ½ car garage	Contents of a fully furnished 5 bedroom house Couches Beds Dressers Washer/Dryer Dining room set Entertainment centre Several large boxes

Make a few lists

The most obvious list will be the items you’ll initially be putting in your storage rental.

But from there, you may want to create a list of things like:

• How long items will be stored: Will some of your belongings be kept for a few weeks? Months? Longer than that?

 

• When items are coming out: If you’re building a new home, say, you’ll want to track which items you can remove from storage as your house nears completion.

 

• Insured vs. non-insured objects: Depending on what you’re storing, you may want to purchase extra insurance. If so, make sure you jot that information down accordingly.

Lastly, don’t forget to keep your lists in a handy, easy-to-remember location.

Not everything fits into a box

Ideally, all your contents and belongings would fit into neat, boxy moving supplies which would then be easily stacked and stored.

Of course, that’s not the case.

Things like appliances, furniture, bikes, tools/equipment and large electronic items may need to be stored free-standing or as-is.

Therefore, you’ll need to account for the extra room and for the fact that a large, antique chandelier needs to be kept in a way where it won’t get damaged or accidentally fall and break.

You’ll need to move around in there

Filling your Ten Storage unit to the brim with boxes and items sounds like a good idea.

But if you can’t actually reach anything inside (without having to pull everything out first), that’ll get quite annoying, quite fast.

You’ll need to account for room to move, turn around and for carrying items in and out of your storage space.

Too often, people will rent the smallest unit possible because they think it’ll save them money.

In reality, it costs them money and time.

Money because there’s a good chance an important object becomes squished or ruined inside.

And time because you’ll spend more of it moving boxes in and out (instead of just grabbing what you need and going).

Get the right storage unit for your needs at Ten Mini Storage

No matter if you need an indoor storage unit, commercial storage for your business or outdoor storage for your car, Ten Mini Storage has the perfect size to accommodate your needs.

To start, you can:

• CONTACT US to learn more about our facilities
• REQUEST A FREE QUOTE on any unit you’re interested in
• DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE COPY of The Self-Storage Scorecard