5×10 storage unit size guide
A 5x10 storage unit provides 50 square feet of floor space and roughly 400 cubic feet of volume. It typically holds the contents of a studio apartment or one fully furnished bedroom, including a bed set, a dresser, a small sofa and 15 to 20 boxes.
- 50 sq ft
- 400 cu ft
- Fits studio apartment
- $55–$110 / month
How big is a 5×10 storage unit?
| Dimensions | 5 ft × 10 ft |
|---|---|
| Floor space | 50 square feet (sq ft) |
| Assumed ceiling height | 8 ft |
| Approximate volume | 400 cubic feet (cu ft)* |
| Realistic usable volume | 340 cu ft at moderate packing density |
| Door | 4–5 ft wide roll-up door |
| Similar to | a large walk-in closet or a garden shed |
| Typical use | Studio apartment |
| Vehicle storage | A motorcycle, with room left for boxes |
| Typical monthly cost | $55–$110 standard, $70–$140 climate-controlled |
*Volume assumes an 8-foot ceiling. Usable capacity varies with door clearance, packing density and whether you leave an access aisle. Cost is a national reference range, reviewed August 2026.
What fits in a 5×10 storage unit?
- A studio apartment: queen bed set, dresser, loveseat, small table
- Around 60–75 medium boxes if stored alone
- A motorcycle plus a wall of boxes
- A washer and dryer pair with room for a mattress and cartons
- One bedroom of a house plus its closet contents
Stored on its own, a 5×10 storage unit takes roughly 113 medium boxes at 3 cu ft each. In practice furniture takes most of the space and boxes fill what is left. For a room-by-room breakdown with layout diagrams, see what fits in a 5×10 storage unit.
What does not fit
- A one-bedroom apartment with appliances — you will be about 100 cu ft short
- Wide furniture: a 7 ft sofa does not turn in a 5 ft wide unit
- Anything requiring regular access to the back
Example inventories
Real item lists, priced in cubic feet from the item dataset these volumes come from. Nothing here is rounded by hand.
A studio apartment — 266 cu ft, about 78% full
| Item | Qty | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Queen bed set | 1 | 60 cu ft |
| Loveseat / 2-cushion sofa | 1 | 35 cu ft |
| Medium box (3.0 cu ft) | 10 | 30 cu ft |
| Dresser, single (up to 4 drawers) | 1 | 25 cu ft |
| Large box (4.5 cu ft) | 5 | 22.5 cu ft |
| Wardrobe box (11 cu ft) | 2 | 22 cu ft |
| Desk, small / writing | 1 | 20 cu ft |
| TV stand / media console | 1 | 15 cu ft |
| Coffee table | 1 | 10 cu ft |
| TV, 50" and larger | 1 | 10 cu ft |
| Office chair | 1 | 10 cu ft |
| Nightstand | 1 | 6 cu ft |
One bedroom plus a home office — 243 cu ft, about 71% full
| Item | Qty | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Queen bed set | 1 | 60 cu ft |
| Dresser, double / triple | 1 | 40 cu ft |
| Medium box (3.0 cu ft) | 12 | 36 cu ft |
| Desk, executive / L-shaped | 1 | 35 cu ft |
| Wardrobe box (11 cu ft) | 2 | 22 cu ft |
| Filing cabinet, 2-drawer | 2 | 16 cu ft |
| Nightstand | 2 | 12 cu ft |
| Small box (1.5 cu ft, "book box") | 8 | 12 cu ft |
| Office chair | 1 | 10 cu ft |
Is a 5×10 storage unit right for your home?
A studio apartment in storage, a student between semesters, or one room of a house during a renovation.
| Home size | Estimated volume | Fill rate in this unit | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| sizing studio apartment | 278 cu ft | 82% | Comfortable |
Studios are the size people most often over-book, usually because the quote came from a room count rather than an item count. The furniture in a studio is genuinely small; the boxes are what surprise people. If that is your situation, the the studio apartment breakdown works through the same decision with the extras that usually push people up a size.
How to pack a 5×10 storage unit
The same unit holds noticeably different amounts depending on how you load it. Three workable layouts:
- Furniture back, boxes front. Bed set and dresser against the back wall, boxes stacked in front to head height. Nothing is reachable, everything fits.
- Split with a centre line. Furniture down one long side, boxes down the other, a 20-inch walkway between. Loses roughly 15% of capacity and gains you the whole unit.
| Packing density | What it means | Usable volume | With a 15% access aisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose | Nothing stacked above head height, fragile items, room to move things around. | 280 cu ft | 238 cu ft |
| Moderate | Stacked to around 7 ft with furniture placed sensibly. The default. | 340 cu ft | 289 cu ft |
| Tight | Stacked to the ceiling, uniform boxes, disassembled furniture. Needs planning. | 372 cu ft | 316 cu ft |
The gap between loose and tight packing in this unit is 80 cubic feet — often a whole unit size. Our packing guide covers how to get to the tight end without burying the things you need.
How much does a 5×10 storage unit cost?
A 5×10 storage unit typically costs $55–$110 per month for a standard unit and $70–$140 per month climate-controlled. These are national reference ranges, not quotes — city pricing runs well above them and rural pricing well below.
| Unit type | Typical monthly range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $55–$110 | Drive-up or interior, no climate control |
| Climate-controlled | $70–$140 | Adds roughly 20–40% for temperature and humidity control |
National reference ranges before promotions, taxes and fees. Reviewed August 2026. See how storage pricing works and the fees that are not in the headline rate.
Full cost breakdown for this size, including what changes the price and what the first month usually looks like.
5×10 storage unit compared with nearby sizes
| Attribute | 5×10 storage unit | 5×5 storage unit | 5×15 storage unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor area | 50 sq ft | 25 sq ft | 75 sq ft |
| Volume | 400 cu ft | 200 cu ft | 600 cu ft |
| Usable volume | 340 cu ft | 170 cu ft | 510 cu ft |
| Typical home | Studio apartment | Part of one room | 1 bedroom apartment |
| Standard cost | $55–$110 | $40–$75 | $75–$140 |
Side-by-side breakdowns: 5x5 vs 5x10, 5x10 vs 10x10.
Limitations of this estimate
The 5 ft width is the constraint, not the 400 cubic feet. Measure your longest piece before you book — sofas over 6 ft and king mattresses are the usual casualties.
Three things this page cannot know: the actual interior dimensions at your facility (advertised sizes are nominal and real units are often a few inches under), the door and ceiling clearance, and how well you will pack. Measure your largest item and check it against the door width before you sign anything — our measuring guide covers what to record.
How we estimate capacity
Volume is floor area × ceiling height: 5 × 10 × 8 = 400 cu ft. Usable volume applies a packing-efficiency factor — 85% at moderate density — and subtracts a further 15% when you need an access aisle. Item volumes come from our furniture dimension dataset, which uses packed cubic feet, the same basis professional movers use on a cube sheet.
Cost ranges are aggregated from published list prices across major US operators and are reviewed twice a year. Full detail, assumptions and known error margins are on the how we estimate.
Related questions
How many square feet is a 5×10 storage unit?
A 5×10 storage unit is 50 square feet of floor space (5 ft × 10 ft), which is about 400 cubic feet of volume with a standard 8 ft ceiling.
Is a 5×10 storage unit big enough for a studio apartment?
Yes, at moderate packing density. A typical studio apartment comes to about 278 cu ft, which fills roughly 82% of the usable space. Appliances, a garage or a home gym will push you to the next size.
How many boxes fit in a 5×10 storage unit?
About 113 medium (3 cu ft) boxes if the unit held nothing else. With furniture in there too, expect roughly a third of that.
Can I park a car in a 5×10 storage unit?
A motorcycle, with room left for boxes. Vehicle storage also needs a drive-up unit, facility permission and proof of registration and insurance — see storage for a car.
What is the difference between a 5×10 storage unit and the next size up?
A 5×15 storage unit adds 200 cubic feet — roughly 3 bedroom sets' worth — for about $20–$30 more per month. Full comparison.