What Size Storage Unit Do You Actually Need? A Visual Guide

Storage unit sizes are listed in feet — 5x5, 10x10, 10x20. That means almost nothing to most people. Here’s what those numbers actually look like in real life, what fits inside each one, and how to avoid paying for space you don’t need.

Why Getting the Size Right Matters

Here’s the expensive mistake people make: they guess, rent a unit that’s too big, and pay $30-$75 more per month than they need to. Over six months, that’s $180-$450 wasted on empty space.

The opposite mistake is worse. You rent too small, cram everything in, and either damage your belongings or end up renting a second unit — now you’re paying double.

A storage unit size guide that actually shows you what fits saves real money. Let’s walk through every common size with visual comparisons and specific item lists.

5x5 Storage Unit (25 Square Feet)

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A 5x5 unit is the size of a small walk-in closet. Stand in your bedroom closet — if it’s a walk-in, that’s roughly the space. If it’s a standard closet, a 5x5 is about twice that.

The ceiling is typically 8-10 feet, which gives you more vertical space than you’d expect. Stack smart and you get a lot more out of 25 square feet.

What Fits in a 5x5

• 10-15 small to medium moving boxes
• A few pieces of small furniture: end table, nightstand, small bookshelf
• Seasonal clothing (4-6 wardrobe boxes or several sealed bins)
• Holiday decorations (Christmas tree, a few bins of ornaments and lights)
• Sporting equipment: golf clubs, skis, a few fishing rods
• College student essentials: mini-fridge, microwave, bedding, and a few boxes

Best For

• Seasonal decluttering — clearing out one closet or a section of the garage
• College students storing dorm room basics over summer
• Small supplemental storage — the stuff that doesn’t fit anywhere else but you’re not ready to part with

Typical Southeast SD Price: $30-$55/month

5x10 Storage Unit (50 Square Feet)

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A 5x10 is the size of a large walk-in closet or a half bathroom. It’s narrow — about as wide as a hallway — but 10 feet deep. Think of a bowling lane with walls.

What Fits in a 5x10

• A mattress and box spring set (standing on end against the back wall) plus 15-20 boxes
• A couch OR a loveseat, plus a dresser and several boxes
• A motorcycle or a riding mower
• One bedroom’s worth of furniture: bed frame, dresser, nightstand, and boxes
• Full seasonal rotation: winter gear in summer, summer gear in winter
• A jet ski on a small trailer (snug but doable)

Best For

• People between apartments storing a bedroom’s worth of stuff
• Homeowners rotating seasonal equipment — swap out the snow blower for the lawn mower
• Motorcycle and small vehicle storage
• Small business owners with document boxes and light inventory

Typical Southeast SD Price: $50-$75/month

10x10 Storage Unit (100 Square Feet)

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A 10x10 is the size of a standard bedroom or half of a one-car garage. This is the unit most people picture when they think “storage unit.” You can walk into it, turn around, and organize things on shelves along the walls.

This is the most popular storage unit size in America, and for good reason — it hits the sweet spot for most needs.

What Fits in a 10x10 Storage Unit

• The contents of a full one-bedroom apartment: couch, bed, dresser, kitchen table and chairs, TV stand, and 30+ boxes
• A living room set: sofa, loveseat, coffee table, entertainment center, end tables, lamp, and area rug
• Workshop contents: workbench, tool chest, table saw, and hand tools
• A full seasonal gear collection: hunting equipment, fishing gear, camping setup, and outdoor recreation items
• Business inventory: several shelving units loaded with product, file boxes, and equipment
• An ATV with room along the walls for additional gear

Best For

• Families in transition — between homes, renovating, or downsizing
• The “I need to clear out the garage” situation — this is it
• Home staging — removing enough furniture to make a house show well
• Small business overflow — inventory, records, and equipment
• Hunters and outdoor enthusiasts consolidating gear (see our hunting gear storage guide)

Typical Southeast SD Price: $75-$110/month

10x15 Storage Unit (150 Square Feet)

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A 10x15 is a large bedroom or about three-quarters of a one-car garage. This is where you start having real room to organize — shelves on both walls, a center aisle, and enough depth to create zones.

What Fits in a 10x15

• A two-bedroom apartment’s worth of furniture and boxes: two bedroom sets, living room furniture, dining set, and 40+ boxes
• A full workshop: table saw, workbench, tool cabinets, standing tool chest, lumber rack, and project materials
• Business inventory for a growing operation: multiple shelving units, seasonal merchandise rotation, and document storage
• Multiple recreational vehicles: two ATVs, or an ATV plus a jet ski trailer
• A double jet ski trailer with room for associated gear

Best For

• Families moving from a house who need to store most of their furniture
• Contractors and tradespeople with tool and equipment collections
• Growing businesses that need organized, accessible storage
• Lake enthusiasts with multiple watercraft (see our boat storage guide)

Typical Southeast SD Price: $100-$135/month

10x20 Storage Unit (200 Square Feet)

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A 10x20 is a one-car garage. If you’ve ever parked a car in a standard garage, you know exactly how big this is. It’s the workhorse of storage units — big enough for serious storage, still manageable enough to organize.

What Fits in a 10x20

• The contents of a three-bedroom house: all furniture, appliances, and 50+ boxes
• A car, truck, or SUV (this is a common use — winter vehicle storage or storing a classic car)
• A trailered boat up to 20 feet with room along the sides for gear
• A full workshop plus overflow inventory for a small business
• Farm equipment attachments: headers, implements, and precision ag technology
• Complete household staging — emptying most of a home for sale

Best For

• Long-distance moves where the entire household goes into storage temporarily (see our moving guide)
• Boat and vehicle storage — the standard choice for trailered watercraft near Lewis and Clark Lake
• Estate storage when settling a family member’s belongings
• Serious business storage — large inventory, equipment, and records
• Farmers storing implements and attachments (see our harvest equipment guide)

Typical Southeast SD Price: $125-$175/month

10x25 and 10x30 Storage Units (250-300 Square Feet)

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These are oversized one-car garages or small two-car garages. A 10x30 is the size of a standard parking space — long enough for large vehicles, boats, and RVs.

What Fits

• A large pontoon boat on a trailer (up to 24+ feet)
• An RV, camper, or large travel trailer
• The entire contents of a four-bedroom house with room to organize
• Multiple vehicles — a boat and a car, or two ATVs and a mountain of gear
• Heavy farm equipment and multiple implements
• Large-scale business inventory or commercial equipment

Best For

• RV and large boat owners who need covered storage
• Farm operations needing space for equipment beyond the machine shed
• Estate liquidations with a full household to sort through
• Commercial storage for businesses with significant space needs

Typical Southeast SD Price: $150-$250/month

Quick Reference: What Size Do I Need?

Here’s the cheat sheet:

Storing a closet’s worth of stuff? → 5x5

Storing one room or seasonal items? → 5x10

Storing a one-bedroom apartment or a garage full? → 10x10

Storing a two-bedroom home’s contents? → 10x15

Storing a whole house, a car, or a boat? → 10x20

Storing a pontoon, RV, or everything you own? → 10x25 or 10x30

How to Avoid Overpaying

A few tips to make sure you get the right size:

1. Make a list of everything you’re storing. Write it down — don’t estimate from memory.
2. Measure large items — especially furniture, vehicles, and equipment. Measure the width, depth, and height.
3. Think vertically. Most units have 8-10 foot ceilings. Stackable bins, shelving, and vertical furniture storage (mattresses on end, for example) effectively double your usable space.
4. Size up slightly if you’re unsure. The cost difference between a 10x10 and a 10x15 is often just $25-$35/month. That’s cheaper than discovering your unit is too small on moving day.
5. Ask the facility. A good storage provider will help you figure out the right size based on what you’re storing. That’s part of the service.

Find Your Size at Lock N’ Leave It Storage

Lock N’ Leave It Storage offers a full range of unit sizes at our Tyndall, Springfield, and Freeman locations. From 5x5 closet-sized units for seasonal overflow to 10x30 units for boats, vehicles, and full household contents — we’ve got the space.

Not sure which size is right? Contact us and tell us what you’re storing. We’ll recommend the right unit so you’re not paying for space you don’t need.

Check availability and reserve online — the most popular sizes fill up first, especially heading into summer. Lock in your unit today and take the guesswork out of storage.