For boxes, seasonal items, or a dorm room, a 5×5, 3×10, or 5×10 unit is usually enough. A 10×10 typically holds about the contents of a one or two bedroom apartment. A 10×14 fits a larger apartment or a small house, and a 10×25 or 10×30 is built for a full home. If you’re stuck between two sizes, go with the larger one, since it’s easier to leave room to spare than to run out of it. Here’s what fits in each size at Go Blue Self Storage, plus a few tips to get it right the first time.
How Unit Sizes Work
Storage units are described by their floor dimensions in feet, so a 10×10 is 10 feet wide and 10 feet deep. That works out to 100 square feet of floor space. You can use the height too, by stacking boxes and furniture safely, which is how people get more out of a unit than the floor space suggests.
What you can fit also depends on how you pack. Matching boxes stack neatly, and loose odd shaped items waste space. Treat the sizes below as a starting point, not a promise.
The Size Guide
5×5 (about 25 square feet). Think of a small closet. It’s a good fit for boxes, seasonal decorations, small furniture pieces, and the kind of stuff that’s crowding your closets at home.
3×10 (about 30 square feet). A long, narrow unit. It works well for things that are tall or awkward, like tools, lawn equipment, bikes, and long items, along with boxes.
5×10 (about 50 square feet). Roughly a walk in closet. It’s a good size for a dorm room’s worth of belongings, or a bedroom’s worth of smaller items, like boxes, bedding, small furniture, and a mini fridge.
7×14 (about 98 square feet). A step up that handles a bedroom’s worth of furniture along with boxes. It’s a good choice for a studio or small one bedroom with a bit of extra.
10×10 (about 100 square feet). One of the most popular sizes. According to our FAQ, a 10×10 typically holds about the contents of a one or two bedroom apartment. Think a couch, a bed, a dresser, a table, and a good number of boxes.
10×14 (about 140 square feet). More room for a larger apartment or a small house. It’s a good fit if you’re storing furniture and household items from a couple of rooms along with appliances and plenty of boxes.
10×25 (about 250 square feet). Built for a full home move. This is the size for large furniture, appliances, and the contents of a multi bedroom house.
10×30 (about 300 square feet). Our largest unit. It suits whole home storage, large items, equipment, and anything that won’t fit elsewhere.
We offer climate controlled units in every size except the 10×30, and conventional units in all sizes.
How to Estimate What You Need
If you’re not sure, a few steps make the decision easier.
1. Make a list. Go room by room and write down what you plan to store. A written inventory also helps later with insurance, which we’ll cover below.
2. Measure your biggest items. A couch, a mattress, a dresser, or a sectional can decide the size on their own, since they need floor and height space.
3. Count your boxes. Boxes add up faster than people expect. A good rule is to count them by room, then round up.
4. Plan for a walkway. You’ll want to reach things in the back, so leave a path down the middle. We recommend leaving a walkway, keeping frequently used items near the front, and placing heavy items on the bottom.
5. Decide how long you’ll store. If it’s temporary, a snug fit is fine. If you’ll be going in and out a lot, give yourself more room.
6. When in doubt, go up a size. The extra space makes packing and unpacking easier, and you won’t have to rent a second unit if something doesn’t fit.
Common Situations and the Size to Start With
College student or dorm storage. A 5×5 or 5×10 usually works, depending on whether you have a mini fridge and furniture.
Decluttering the garage or a closet. A 5×5 or 3×10 can free up a lot of space.
Moving between homes. A 10×10 or 10×14 is a common starting point for an apartment or small home, and a 10×25 or 10×30 for a full house.
Renovating a room or two. A 7×14 or 10×10 will hold the furniture from a room or two.
Business inventory or records. Our units suit inventory, equipment, files, and supplies, and month to month terms let you scale up or down. Measure your shelving and boxes first.
Seasonal gear. A 3×10 is useful for long items like lawn equipment, and a 5×5 handles holiday decorations and small items.
Do You Need Climate Control?
Size isn’t the only decision. Michigan’s temperature swings can cause warping, cracking, and moisture damage, so we recommend a climate controlled unit for wood furniture, electronics, documents, photos, artwork, and musical instruments.
The National Archives gives similar advice for family papers and photographs. It recommends keeping the temperature below 75 degrees Fahrenheit and the relative humidity below 65 percent to prevent mold, and keeping items out of damp basements, garages, and hot attics. You can read more in their guide to storing family papers and photographs.
If you’re storing mostly boxes of decorations and tools, a conventional unit may be fine. If it’s your grandmother’s dresser or your wedding photos, it’s worth the upgrade.
Insurance and Your Inventory
Insurance isn’t required to rent a unit with us, but we do recommend it. According to the Insurance Information Institute (Triple-I), some standard homeowners and renters policies include coverage for personal belongings kept off premises, including in storage facilities. Coverage limits vary by company, and standard policies usually exclude things like flooding and mold, so check your policy.
Triple-I also recommends creating an inventory of the items you’ll store, so you can track your belongings and make sure you have enough coverage. Their article on self storage coverage and tips is a good place to start.
How Go Blue Self Storage Can Help
Go Blue Self Storage is located at 4131 W. Michigan Ave. in Jackson. Every rental is month to month, so you can start small and move up or down as your needs change, and our rental rate lock means no rent increases for 12 months. There’s no security deposit, and you’ll get your own keypad gate code for 24/7 access.
If you’re not sure what size to choose, our team is happy to help you figure it out. Call us at (517) 750-0400 or reserve a unit online. Our office is open Monday through Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size storage unit do I need?
It depends on what you’re storing. Our small units (5×5, 3×10, and 5×10) are great for boxes, seasonal items, and dorm stuff. Medium units (7×14, 10×10, and 10×14) suit apartment storage, and large units (10×25 and 10×30) fit full home moves. If you’re not sure, our team can help.
What fits in a 10×10 storage unit?
A 10×10 unit typically holds about the contents of a one or two bedroom apartment. That’s usually a bed, a couch, a dresser, a table, and a good number of boxes, depending on how you pack.
What size storage unit do I need for a 2 bedroom apartment?
A 10×10 is a common starting point. If you have a lot of furniture, appliances, or boxes, a 10×14 gives you extra room. When you’re between sizes, we recommend choosing the larger one.
What size unit do I need for a whole house?
A 10×25 or 10×30 is built for full home moves. The right size depends on the number of rooms and how much furniture and how many appliances you have. We can talk through your list and recommend one.
Should I get a climate controlled unit?
We recommend one for wood furniture, electronics, documents, photos, artwork, and musical instruments. Michigan’s temperature swings can cause warping, cracking, and moisture damage. Climate controlled units are available in every size except the 10×30.
Can I change unit sizes later?
Our rentals are month to month, so you only pay for the time you need. If your needs change, talk to our office about options.
Do I need insurance for my storage unit?
Insurance isn’t required, but we do recommend it. Some homeowners or renters policies cover stored items, so check with your provider first. Making an inventory of your items helps you confirm you have enough coverage.
Go Blue Self Storage is a self storage rental facility in Jackson, Michigan and has flexible storage options designed to fit the needs of those in Jackson and the surrounding areas. Questions about our company or what we offer? Contact us here.