Okay, so here’s the deal. I’ve been working at storage facilities for over eight years, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve watched people make the same expensive mistakes when picking a unit size. Just last week, this guy came in absolutely furious because he’d been paying for a 10×20 for six months when he really only needed a 10×10. That’s like $600 down the drain!

Look, I get it. When you’re stressed about moving or clearing out space, the last thing you want to think about is doing math and measuring stuff. But trust me, spending 20 minutes figuring this out properly will save you serious money.

The Mistake That Costs Everyone

Here’s what happens every single day at our facility: someone walks in, looks at our size chart, and immediately goes, “Yeah, I’ll take the bigger one just to be safe.”

No! Stop right there.

That “just to be safe” mentality is exactly why storage companies make so much money. I’ve seen people waste thousands of dollars because they thought they needed more space than they actually did.

But then there’s the opposite problem. Last month, a woman rented our smallest unit for her entire apartment’s worth of stuff. Guess what happened? She couldn’t even close the door. Had to upgrade immediately and pay moving fees all over again.

What These Sizes Actually Look Like

Forget those fancy brochures with the perfect diagrams. Let me tell you what really fits in each size, based on what I see every day.

5×5 – The Closet

This is literally the size of a small walk-in closet. I tell people to think of it as storage for stuff that would normally go in your bedroom closet, plus maybe some seasonal decorations.

What actually fits:

• Your winter clothes and summer clothes (not both at the same time).
• Holiday decorations.
• A few boxes of books or papers.
• Maybe a small chair or desk.
• Sporting goods like golf clubs or skis.

What doesn’t fit: Pretty much any real furniture. Don’t even think about a couch or dining table.

5×10 – The Magic Size

This one’s my favorite to recommend because people always underestimate it. It’s narrow but deep, like a really long closet. You’d be shocked what you can cram in here if you’re smart about it.

What fits:

• Everything from a studio apartment (if you stack smart).
• A full bedroom set including the mattress.
• Small appliances.
• About 20 boxes if you stack them right.
• Even a motorcycle (I’ve seen it done).

The trick with 5x10s is to think vertical. Stack those boxes to the ceiling and put your mattress against the back wall standing up.

10×10 – The Sweet Spot

This is our most popular size, and for good reason. It’s basically like having a one-car garage space. Most people moving out of a one-bedroom apartment end up here.

Real talk about what fits:

• All your furniture from a one-bedroom place.
• Your washer and dryer.
• Refrigerator.
• Tons of boxes.
• Still have room to walk around.

The walking around part is key. You don’t want to play Jenga every time you need something from the back.

10×15 and Bigger – For Real Life Changes

These are for when serious stuff is happening. Moving across the country, divorce, death in the family – you know, the big life events that require storing a whole house worth of stuff.

I usually tell people that a 10×15 holds about two bedrooms worth of furniture, and a 10×20 can fit most of a three-bedroom house if you’re organized about it.

How I Help Customers Figure Out Their Size?

When people come in completely lost, here’s what I actually do:

I ask them to walk me through their home room by room. “Tell me about your bedroom – what’s in there?” Usually it’s a bed, dresser, maybe a chair, some boxes. That’s about half a 5×10 right there.

Then we talk about the living room. Couch, TV stand, coffee table, more boxes. There’s the other half of the 5×10, or maybe we need to bump up to a 10×10 depending on how big their couch is.

Kitchen stuff is tricky because it’s lots of little things that add up. Pots, pans, dishes, small appliances – that’s easily another 5×5 worth of space.

Here’s something nobody tells you: you need to leave space to move around. I’ve seen people pack their units so tight they can’t get to anything without moving everything else first. What’s the point of that?

The Biggest Mistakes I See Every Week

The “Better Safe Than Sorry” People

These folks always rent bigger than they need. I try to talk them down, but they don’t listen. Then three months later they’re asking if they can switch to something smaller.

Here’s the thing – downsizing is a pain. You have to move everything out, and there’s usually a waiting list for smaller units. Just start with what you actually need.

The Cramming Champions

On the flip side, some people try to stuff way too much into tiny units. I watched a guy try to fit a king-size mattress into a 5×5. It was like watching someone try to put a square peg in a round hole.

Your stuff will get damaged if you cram it in. That mattress? It got bent and ruined. The money he saved on rent wasn’t worth replacing a $800 mattress.

The “I’ll Sort It Later” Crowd

These people just dump everything in without any plan. They rent a huge unit, toss everything in randomly, and then can never find what they need. Six months later, they’re paying storage fees for stuff they forgot they even had.

My Honest Advice After Years of Doing This

Start with the smaller size you think might work. Seriously. You can almost always fit more than you think if you’re smart about it.

Use furniture as storage containers. Your dresser drawers don’t have to be empty just because you’re storing the dresser. Fill them with clothes, linens, whatever.

Take apart anything you can. Bed frames come apart. Table legs unscrew. Shelving units break down. Everything fits better when it’s in pieces.

Put the heavy stuff on the bottom, obviously, but also put the stuff you might need toward the front. Don’t bury the box with your important papers under your couch.

When People Actually Need More Space

Sometimes bigger really is better. If you’re storing a business inventory, you probably need room to move around and access things regularly.

If you’re in the military and getting deployed, you might want extra space because who knows what you’ll need to add later.

If you’re dealing with a death in the family and sorting through a lifetime of belongings, don’t stress yourself out trying to fit everything in the smallest possible space. Sometimes the extra money for peace of mind is worth it.

What We Do Differently at Our Facility

We actually let you look at empty units before you rent them. I know that sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many places just show you a chart and expect you to imagine the space.

We also don’t lock you into long contracts. If you realize after a month that you need something different, we’ll work with you. Life happens, and storage needs change.

The bottom line

I make the same commission whether you rent a 5×5 or a 10×20. I’d rather see you happy with the right size than frustrated with the wrong one.

Take five minutes, think about what you actually have, and be realistic about what you need. Your wallet will thank you later.