Compare storage unit sizes
Most storage decisions come down to two adjacent sizes. The useful comparison is not price against price but cost per cubic foot against how much space you actually need — larger units are consistently cheaper per cubic foot, which is why sizing up costs less than most people assume.
- 5 head-to-head comparisons
- Volume, cost and capacity
- Live comparison tool
Size comparisons
- 5×5 vs 5×10 Part of one room against studio apartment. Compare →
- 5×10 vs 10×10 Studio apartment against 1–2 bedroom apartment. Compare →
- 10×10 vs 10×15 1–2 bedroom apartment against 2 bedroom home. Compare →
- 10×15 vs 10×20 2 bedroom home against 3 bedroom house. Compare →
- 10×20 vs 10×30 3 bedroom house against 4–5 bedroom house. Compare →
Storage unit or moving container?
Not every storage decision is between two unit sizes. If the belongings are moving to a different address afterwards, a portable container may replace the unit entirely.
Storage unit vs moving container — capacity, access, cost and the point where each one wins.
The full size ladder
| Size | Volume | Usable | Step up from previous | Extra monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5×5 | 200 cu ft | 170 cu ft | — | — |
| 5×10 | 400 cu ft | 340 cu ft | +200 cu ft | +$15–$35 |
| 5×15 | 600 cu ft | 510 cu ft | +200 cu ft | +$20–$30 |
| 10×10 | 800 cu ft | 680 cu ft | +200 cu ft | +$15–$40 |
| 10×15 | 1,200 cu ft | 1,020 cu ft | +400 cu ft | +$35–$60 |
| 10×20 | 1,600 cu ft | 1,360 cu ft | +400 cu ft | +$35–$70 |
| 10×25 | 2,000 cu ft | 1,700 cu ft | +400 cu ft | +$35–$60 |
| 10×30 | 2,400 cu ft | 2,040 cu ft | +400 cu ft | +$30–$70 |
Compare any two sizes
Related questions
Is it cheaper to rent one large unit or two small ones?
One larger unit, almost always. Two 10x10s cost $180–$360 against $160–$310 for a 10x20 with the same floor area. The exception is needing frequent access to one half and not the other.
How much bigger is a 10x10 than a 5x10?
Exactly twice the floor area — 100 sq ft against 50 — and twice the volume, 800 cu ft against 400. The cost difference is well under double. Full comparison.
Should I size up if I am unsure?
Yes. Uncertainty is itself a reason to take the larger unit: the annual cost difference between adjacent sizes is usually $200–$700, while getting it wrong means a second rental and moving everything twice.