How to Choose the Right Storage Unit Size: A Guide for Yankton, SD Residents

Renting a storage unit in Yankton, South Dakota? Picking the wrong size means paying too much — or cramming your stuff into a space that doesn’t fit. Here’s how to get it right the first time.

Why Size Matters When Renting a Storage Unit

If you’ve never rented a storage unit before, the size options can feel overwhelming. A 5x5? A 10x20? What do those numbers even mean in real life? And more importantly, which one actually fits your stuff?

Getting the size right saves you money every single month. Rent a unit that’s too big and you’re throwing away $20-50 per month on empty space. Rent one that’s too small and you’ll either damage your belongings by packing them too tight, or end up renting a second unit — doubling your cost.

For Yankton, SD residents and anyone in the surrounding southeast South Dakota area, storage unit prices typically range from $50 to $175 per month depending on size and features. That range means the difference between the right size and the wrong size could add up to over $1,000 a year.

Let’s break down each common size so you know exactly what you’re getting.

Common Storage Unit Sizes Explained

5x5 Storage Unit (25 sq ft)

Think of it as: A small walk-in closet.

What fits: - A few boxes of seasonal clothing or holiday decorations - Small furniture items — an end table, a few chairs, a small bookshelf - Sporting equipment (skis, golf clubs, fishing gear) - College student’s dorm room essentials during summer break

Best for: People who just need to clear out a closet or garage corner. If you can see everything you want to store at one glance, a 5x5 is probably enough.

Typical Yankton-area price: $30–$55/month

5x10 Storage Unit (50 sq ft)

Think of it as: A large walk-in closet or half a standard bathroom.

What fits: - A one-bedroom apartment’s worth of extra furniture - A mattress and box spring set (standing on end) plus boxes - A couch, a dresser, and 10-15 medium boxes - Seasonal items like a lawn mower, snow blower, and garden tools - A motorcycle

Best for: People between apartments, storing a bedroom set, or keeping seasonal equipment out of the garage.

Typical Yankton-area price: $50–$75/month

10x10 Storage Unit (100 sq ft)

Think of it as: A standard bedroom or half a one-car garage.

What fits: - The contents of a full one-bedroom apartment (furniture, boxes, appliances) - A living room set: couch, love seat, coffee table, TV stand, entertainment center - About 30-40 medium moving boxes stacked efficiently - A large workbench, tool chest, and shop equipment

Best for: This is the most popular storage unit size in America for a reason. If you’re storing a room’s worth of stuff or downsizing from a house, the 10x10 is your sweet spot. It’s the go-to for Yankton families doing renovations, seasonal transitions, or long-distance moves.

Typical Yankton-area price: $75–$110/month

10x15 Storage Unit (150 sq ft)

Think of it as: A large bedroom.

What fits: - A two-bedroom apartment’s worth of furniture and boxes - A full living room set, bedroom set, dining table, and 40+ boxes - Business inventory or equipment for a small operation - Workshop contents: table saw, workbench, tool cabinets, lumber

Best for: Families in transition — moving between houses, dealing with an estate, or doing a major home renovation. Also popular with small business owners in the Yankton area who need overflow inventory space.

Typical Yankton-area price: $100–$135/month

10x20 Storage Unit (200 sq ft)

Think of it as: A one-car garage.

What fits: - A full three-bedroom house worth of furniture, appliances, and boxes - A car, truck, or large SUV (if the unit has drive-up access) - A boat on a trailer (depending on length — measure first) - Farm equipment: a riding mower, tiller, ATV, plus tools and supplies

Best for: Major moves, estate cleanouts, vehicle storage, and anyone who needs serious space. For Yankton-area residents near Lewis and Clark Lake, the 10x20 is often the go-to for boat storage during the off-season.

Typical Yankton-area price: $120–$165/month

10x30 and Larger

Some facilities in the Yankton and southeast SD area offer oversized units — 10x30, 12x40, or even 14x50. These are built for:

• Multiple vehicles or boats
• Farm equipment and implements
• Business inventory at commercial scale
• Estate storage for large households

Lock N’ Leave It Storage, for example, offers large 14x50 units at their Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman locations — perfect for farm equipment, RVs, boats, and large-scale storage needs that standard Yankton facilities can’t accommodate.

How to Estimate the Size You Need

Here’s a simple method that works:

1. Gather everything in one place. Pile it up in your garage or a room. See how much floor space it takes up.
2. Remember: you stack up, not just out. A 10x10 unit with 8-foot ceilings gives you 800 cubic feet of space if you stack boxes efficiently.
3. Add a buffer. Whatever size you think you need, go one size up if your budget allows. You’ll want a walkway to reach items in the back, and you’ll almost certainly end up adding more stuff over time.
4. Ask yourself: will I need access? If you’ll visit the unit regularly to grab things, you need aisle space. If it’s long-term “set it and forget it” storage, you can pack tighter.

The Room-Count Rule of Thumb

This isn’t exact, but it gets you in the ballpark:

Climate Controlled vs. Standard: Does Size Affect the Choice?

In South Dakota, temperature swings from -20°F in January to 100°F in July. If you’re storing temperature-sensitive items — electronics, wood furniture, leather, photographs, musical instruments, wine — climate-controlled storage is worth considering regardless of unit size.

Larger units cost more to climate-control, so if budget is tight, consider storing sensitive items in a smaller climate-controlled unit and putting the durable stuff (metal tools, plastic bins, outdoor equipment) in a standard unit.

Tips for Maximizing Your Storage Unit Space

No matter what size you choose, smart packing gets you more out of every square foot:

• Disassemble furniture. Take legs off tables, remove shelves from bookcases. Flat pieces stack better.
• Use uniform box sizes. Same-size boxes stack cleanly with no wasted gaps. Medium moving boxes (18x18x16) are the sweet spot — big enough to be useful, small enough to lift.
• Stack heavy boxes on the bottom, light on top. Obvious, but people get lazy.
• Put things you’ll need first near the door. Holiday decorations in October? Don’t bury them behind the couch.
• Leave a center aisle if you’ll access the unit more than once or twice. An aisle 2 feet wide is enough.
• Use vertical space. Dressers and bookshelves can hold boxes inside them. Mattresses stand on end. Lean things against walls.
• Protect your stuff. Furniture covers, moving blankets, and moisture absorbers (DampRid) are cheap insurance in South Dakota’s humidity swings.

Storage Unit Sizes Available Near Yankton, SD

If you’re searching for storage units in Yankton, Tyndall, Tripp, Springfield, or Freeman, South Dakota, you’ve got options. Yankton itself has several facilities with standard sizes from 5x5 to 12x40.

For residents south of Yankton — in Tyndall, Springfield, Freeman, and the surrounding Bon Homme and Hutchinson County areas — Lock N’ Leave It Storage offers large units at three convenient locations. Their oversized units are especially popular with farmers, boat owners, and families who need more space than the typical 10x10.

Ready to Find the Right Size?

Don’t overpay for space you don’t need, and don’t cram your belongings into a unit that’s too small. Use the guidelines above to estimate your needs, then reach out to get exactly the right fit.

Lock N’ Leave It Storage has locations in Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman, SD — serving all of southeast South Dakota. Contact them today to check availability and find the right unit size for your needs.

👉 Visit locknleaveitstorage.org or call to reserve your unit.