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Storage Unit Size Calculator
Use this free storage unit size calculator to find the smallest unit that fits everything you own. Check off your furniture, appliances, and boxes, or start from a room preset for a studio or a one, two, or three-bedroom home, and the calculator adds up the cubic feet and recommends a unit size from 5×5 up to 10×30. It also lets you set the ceiling height and choose climate control, so the recommendation matches the unit you will actually rent.
| Item | Cu ft each | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Queen bed | 45 | |
| Twin bed | 30 | |
| Sofa (3-seat) | 50 | |
| Loveseat | 35 | |
| Armchair | 20 | |
| Dresser | 25 | |
| Dining table + chairs | 40 | |
| Coffee table | 10 | |
| TV | 5 | |
| Desk | 20 | |
| Washer | 25 | |
| Dryer | 25 | |
| Bicycle | 10 | |
| Small box | 1.5 | |
| Medium box | 3 | |
| Large box | 4.5 |
| Unit size | Capacity | Fits? |
|---|---|---|
| 5 × 5 | 200 cu ft | No |
| 5 × 10 | 400 cu ft | Yes ✓ |
| 10 × 10 | 800 cu ft | Yes ✓ |
| 10 × 15 | 1,200 cu ft | Yes ✓ |
| 10 × 20 | 1,600 cu ft | Yes ✓ |
| 10 × 30 | 2,400 cu ft | Yes ✓ |
How it works
The calculator adds up the volume of everything you list. Each item has a typical volume in cubic feet: a queen bed is about 45, a twin bed about 30, a three-seat sofa about 50, a loveseat about 35, an armchair about 20, a dresser about 25, a dining table with chairs about 40, a television about 5, a desk about 20, a washer or dryer about 25 each, and a bicycle about 10. Boxes are 1.5 cubic feet for a small box, 3 for a medium box, and 4.5 for a large box. These are planning estimates for average furniture; an oversized sectional or a king bed will take more room, so adjust the counts or add extra boxes to cover anything unusual.
The total is compared with the capacity of each standard unit size. A storage unit's capacity is its floor area times its ceiling height, and most units have 8-foot ceilings. That gives 200 cubic feet for a 5×5, 400 for a 5×10, 800 for a 10×10, 1,200 for a 10×15, 1,600 for a 10×20, and 2,400 for a 10×30. The calculator recommends the smallest unit whose capacity is at least your total volume. If your total is bigger than 2,400 cubic feet, even the largest standard unit will not hold it, and you will need two units or a larger commercial space.
The ceiling height matters more than most people expect. A unit with a 10-foot ceiling holds 25 percent more than the same floor size with an 8-foot ceiling, because capacity is floor area times height. The calculator lets you set the height, so if your facility offers taller units you will see the real capacity. In practice, though, you cannot use every inch of height: heavy boxes go on the bottom, fragile items should not be stacked above shoulder height, and you need a walkway to reach the back.
Room presets are a fast starting point. A studio usually needs a 5×10, a one-bedroom usually needs a 5×10, a two-bedroom usually needs a 10×10, and a three-bedroom usually needs a 10×10 or a 10×15 depending on how much furniture and how many boxes there are. Garage contents vary widely, because a garage can hold anything from a few bikes and toolboxes to a full workshop. Pick the preset closest to your situation, then adjust the counts to match what you actually own.
Climate control does not change the size you need, but it changes the price and what you should store. A climate-controlled unit typically costs 25 to 50 percent more than a standard unit, and it is worth it for wood furniture, leather, electronics, photographs, documents, and mattresses. For sturdy items such as metal tools and plastic bins, a standard drive-up unit is usually fine.
Packing well is what makes the recommended size actually work. Stand mattresses and sofas on end along the walls, take table legs off where you can, and label every box on two sides. Put the items you will need first near the door, and leave a narrow aisle down the middle so the back stays reachable.
Unit capacity = length × width × ceiling height · Pick the smallest unit with capacity ≥ total volume
Worked example
You are storing the contents of a one-bedroom apartment: 1 queen bed, 1 sofa, 1 armchair, 1 dresser, 1 dining table with chairs, 1 TV, 20 medium boxes, 10 large boxes, 1 bicycle, 1 washer, and 1 dryer. The ceiling height is 8 feet.
Step 1: Furniture — queen bed 45 + sofa 50 + armchair 20 + dresser 25 + dining set 40 + TV 5 = 185 cubic feet.
Step 2: Boxes — 20 medium × 3 = 60, plus 10 large × 4.5 = 45, for 105 cubic feet.
Step 3: The rest — bicycle 10 + washer 25 + dryer 25 = 60 cubic feet.
Step 4: Total — 185 + 105 + 60 = 350 cubic feet.
Step 5: Units — a 5×5 holds 200 cubic feet, which is too small. A 5×10 holds 400 cubic feet, which fits with 50 cubic feet to spare.
The recommended unit is a 5×10. If you add a second dresser and 10 more boxes, the total rises to about 405 cubic feet, and you would need to step up to a 10×10 instead.
FAQ
What size storage unit do I need for a one-bedroom apartment?
A one-bedroom apartment usually fits in a 5 by 10 unit, which holds about 400 cubic feet at 8 feet of ceiling height. A typical one-bedroom load, a queen bed, sofa, armchair, dresser, dining set, television, 20 medium boxes, 10 large boxes, a bicycle, and a washer and dryer, adds up to about 350 cubic feet. If you have extra-large furniture or many boxes, step up to a 10 by 10.
What fits in a 5 by 5 storage unit?
A 5 by 5 unit holds about 200 cubic feet, roughly the contents of a small closet or a studio corner: a twin bed or a dresser, a few chairs, a television, and 10 to 15 boxes. It is a good size for seasonal items, sports gear, or the boxes from one room, but it will not hold a sofa or a full bedroom set.
How do I calculate the cubic feet of my belongings?
Add up the volume of each item in cubic feet. This calculator assigns a typical volume to common furniture and boxes, such as 45 cubic feet for a queen bed, 50 for a three-seat sofa, 3 for a medium box, and 4.5 for a large box, and totals them for you. For an unusual item, multiply its length by width by height in feet.
Do I need a climate-controlled storage unit?
Climate control is worth it for anything sensitive to heat, cold, or humidity: wood furniture, leather, electronics, photographs, documents, musical instruments, and mattresses. It typically costs 25 to 50 percent more than a standard unit. For sturdy items such as metal tools, plastic bins, and patio furniture, a standard drive-up unit is usually fine.
How high can I stack boxes in a storage unit?
Most storage units have 8-foot ceilings, and this calculator uses 8 feet as the default height. In practice, stack heavy boxes on the bottom and lighter ones on top, keep a narrow walkway so you can reach the back, and do not stack fragile items above shoulder height. Mattresses and sofas can stand on end along the walls to save floor space.