Choosing the right size is what decides whether your storage unit is money well spent. Too small and you end up unpacking half of it every time you need something from the back. Too big and you pay every week for space you never use. This guide helps you work out the size you need before you book.
Storage unit sizes at a glance
Self storage in the UK is measured in square feet (sq ft). Most units are around 8 ft high, so you can stack well above head height. Providers often describe their sizes by comparison with a garden shed, a garage or a van load, which is the easiest way to picture them:
| Size | Roughly the size of | Typically holds |
| 10 to 15 sq ft | a large cupboard or locker | a few boxes, suitcases, seasonal items |
| 25 sq ft | a small garden shed | the contents of a studio flat or a student room |
| 35 to 50 sq ft | a garden shed to half a single garage | a one-bedroom flat |
| 75 sq ft | a Luton van load | a two-bedroom flat |
| 100 sq ft | a single garage | a two to three-bedroom house |
| 150 sq ft | one and a half garages | a three to four-bedroom house |
| 200 sq ft and more | two single garages | a large family house, or stock and equipment for a business |
These are guide values. How much fits depends on how much furniture you have, how bulky it is and how well you pack, so check the exact dimensions of a unit before you book.
Step by step: working out the size you need
1. Make a list
Go from room to room and note everything you want to store: furniture, appliances, bikes and sports kit, and the number of boxes. Larger items such as sofas, wardrobes, beds and white goods decide the size more than the boxes do.
2. Think in van loads
If you are moving, the removal firm or van hire company will usually tell you how many vans you need. As a rule of thumb, a Luton van load fits into about 75 sq ft, and a full single garage into about 100 sq ft.
3. Plan for access
If you will need things while they are in storage, leave a small aisle and put what you need most at the front. Allow a little more space for that, or for anything that cannot be stacked.
4. Use the height
Stack boxes and dismantle furniture where you can. Standing a mattress or a sofa on its end and stacking sturdy boxes up to the ceiling can save you a whole size category.
Tips before you book
Declutter first
Before you store anything, sell, donate or recycle what you no longer need. Many councils collect bulky items for a small fee, and charities often collect good furniture for free. Every item you do not store keeps your unit smaller.
Ask about moving to another size
Most self storage centres let you move to a bigger or smaller unit in the same building if your needs change, so you do not have to get the size exactly right the first time.
Check access and opening hours
If you store large furniture, check the size of lifts and doors, whether there is a loading bay and trolleys, and when you can get in.
Find the right storage unit
Once you know how much space you need, compare self storage near you on storabble, the independent comparison platform for storage. Here are some of the larger cities:
- Self storage in London
- Self storage in Birmingham
- Self storage in Manchester
- Self storage in Leeds
- Self storage in Glasgow
- Self storage in Edinburgh
- Self storage in Bristol
- Self storage in Cardiff
- Self storage in Belfast
Want to know what to expect on price? Read how much self storage costs.
Frequently asked questions
Usually 35 to 50 sq ft, about the size of a garden shed or half a single garage. With a lot of furniture, look at around 75 sq ft.
About the size of a single garage, for example 10 ft by 10 ft. It typically holds the contents of a two to three-bedroom house.
Most self storage centres let you move to a bigger or smaller unit in the same building. Ask the provider about it when you book.