What Size Storage Unit Do You Need? A Room-by-Room Sizing Guide

Common Storage Unit Sizes and What They Fit

Storage units are described by width and depth in feet, so a 5×10 unit is 5 feet wide and 10 feet deep. Ceiling height typically runs around 8 feet, though it varies by facility. A 5×5 unit is roughly the size of a small closet, good for seasonal decorations, sports gear, or a stack of boxes. A 5×10 unit holds the contents of a small bedroom or a studio apartment, including a bed frame, a dresser, and a run of boxes. A 10×10 unit is one of the most popular sizes and comfortably holds the furniture from a two-bedroom apartment. A 10×15 unit steps up to fit a small two to three bedroom home. A 10×20 unit, about the size of a one-car garage, is what most people choose when storing a three or four bedroom house or a vehicle. Anything larger, like a 10×30 unit, is built for a full house of furniture and appliances or longer term commercial storage.

For a closer look at square footage and side-by-side comparisons, Extra Space Storage’s size chart is a useful reference to double check your estimate before you book.

What Size Storage Unit Do You Need for an Apartment?

If you’re clearing out a studio apartment, a 5×10 unit is usually enough for a mattress, small furniture, and moving boxes. A one-bedroom apartment tends to need a 5×15, especially once you add a couch or a dining set into the mix. Two-bedroom apartments generally call for a 10×10 or 10×15, depending on how much furniture you’re keeping versus donating.

If you’re not sure whether you’ll need short-term storage during the move itself or a longer arrangement while you house-hunt, our team handling apartment moving services in Lexington can walk through your specific floor plan and give you a more exact estimate before moving day.

What Size Storage Unit Do You Need for a House?

Houses need more room than most people expect, mainly because of appliances, outdoor equipment, and furniture that doesn’t break down easily. A three-bedroom home typically needs a 10×20 unit. A four-bedroom or larger home usually needs a 10×25 or 10×30, particularly if you’re storing a full kitchen’s worth of appliances alongside bedroom and living room furniture.

Families downsizing from a larger home, whether for a move across town or a move to Nicholasville or another nearby community, often store more than they think they will. It helps to walk through each room and note anything heavier than a few boxes before you commit to a size. Our residential moving crews handle this kind of walkthrough regularly and can help you avoid underestimating.

Storing Vehicles, Furniture, and Oversized Items

Vehicles need more specific sizing. Motorcycles usually fit in a 5×10 unit. Standard cars and SUVs typically need a 10×20 unit with drive-up access. Larger trucks or vans may require a 10×25 or 10×30.

Oversized furniture pieces deserve their own consideration too. A piano, for example, needs both floor space and careful handling to avoid damage during loading, which is why we always recommend reviewing our piano moving guidance before storing one long term. The same goes for pool tables and gun safes, both of which are heavy enough that unit access and doorway width matter just as much as square footage.

How to Avoid Renting the Wrong Size

The single biggest sizing mistake people make is skipping the decluttering step. Storing items you were planning to donate or toss anyway just means paying more each month for less useful space. According to the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, sorting through belongings before a move, even briefly, tends to reduce the amount people end up storing by a noticeable margin.

Before you book a unit, walk through your home and separate items into keep, sell, donate, and store. If packing and sorting feels overwhelming on top of everything else a move involves, our packing and organizing services can help you sort efficiently so you’re only paying to store what you actually want to keep.

Why Sizing Matters More Than It Seems

Getting the size right affects more than your monthly bill. A unit that’s too tight makes it harder to access items in the back, increases the odds of damage from overstuffing, and often means a frustrating reshuffle a few months later. A unit that’s too large is simply wasted money, month after month.

As a firefighter and veteran-owned moving company, we’ve built our reputation on giving people straight answers instead of upselling them into more space than they need. The American Trucking Associations’ Moving and Storage Conference recommends getting an in-home or detailed inventory-based estimate before committing to any moving or storage decision, and that’s exactly how our team approaches every job across Lexington and the surrounding areas.