Storage Unit Size Estimator
Storage unit size in sq ft from home size, extra rooms, large items and boxes, with an 85 to 120% range and the smallest standard unit that fits. How it works
Use the Storage Unit Size Estimator
About the Storage Unit Size Estimator
A 2 bedroom home with 20 boxes needs about 112 sq ft of storage floor, a range of 95 to 134 sq ft, so the smallest standard unit that fits is a 10x15 (150 sq ft). The estimator adds a home base (100 sq ft for a 2 bedroom), 25 sq ft per extra room, the floor area of each large item, 0.6 sq ft per box and length × width × count for a custom item that is not on the list.
Storage estimate by home size (20 boxes, no extra rooms or large items)
| Home size | Recommended | Range | Smallest unit that fits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 62 sq ft | 53 to 74 sq ft | 10x10 (100 sq ft) |
| 1 bedroom | 87 sq ft | 74 to 104 sq ft | 10x10 (100 sq ft) |
| 2 bedroom | 112 sq ft | 95 to 134 sq ft | 10x15 (150 sq ft) |
| 3 bedroom | 162 sq ft | 138 to 194 sq ft | 10x20 (200 sq ft) |
| 4 bedroom | 212 sq ft | 180 to 254 sq ft | 10x30 or 15x20 (300 sq ft) |
| 5+ bedroom | 262 sq ft | 223 to 314 sq ft | 10x30 or 15x20 (300 sq ft) |
The 20 boxes are the calculator’s default and add 12 sq ft. The unit is the smallest whose floor area is at least the unrounded need.
Floor area the estimator assigns to each large item
| Item | Floor area |
|---|---|
| Sofa | 25 sq ft |
| King bed | 50 sq ft |
| Queen bed | 40 sq ft |
| Full bed | 30 sq ft |
| Twin bed | 20 sq ft |
| Refrigerator | 35 sq ft |
| Washer | 20 sq ft |
| Dryer | 20 sq ft |
| Dining table | 25 sq ft |
| Desk | 15 sq ft |
| TV, 50 in or larger | 10 sq ft |
| TV, 32 to 49 in | 6 sq ft |
| Bicycle | 8 sq ft |
| Exercise equipment | 30 sq ft |
| Large bookshelf | 15 sq ft |
These are planning estimates built into the calculator, not measured or published sizes. You can enter 0 to 10 of each.
How to use this tool
- Pick the home size, then add any extra rooms (dens, offices), up to 10.
- Set the count of each large item, from 0 to 10, and type the number of boxes, a whole number from 0 to 200.
- For something not on the list, such as a piano or a workbench, enter its length and width in feet (0 to 40) and how many (0 to 50). Two 3 × 4 ft items add 24 sq ft, which takes the default 2 bedroom home from 112 to 136 sq ft, still a 10x15.
- Read the recommended square feet, the range and the smallest standard unit that fits. Clear Saved Values resets the form.
Frequently asked questions
- What size storage unit do I need for a 2 bedroom apartment?
- The estimator gives 112 sq ft for a 2 bedroom home with 20 boxes, a range of 95 to 134 sq ft, and a 10x15 unit. Public Storage’s size guide also pairs a 10x15 with the contents of a two-bedroom home. Large items such as a sofa (25 sq ft) or a refrigerator (35 sq ft) raise the figure.
- How many boxes fit in a 10x10 storage unit?
- This tool does not answer that directly: it adds floor space for the boxes you have, 0.6 sq ft each (a 3 cu ft box in a stack 5 ft high), to the space for your rooms and furniture. A 10x10 with nothing but boxes, stacked wall to wall with no aisle, would take about 167 at that rate. A real load mixes boxes with furniture and needs room to walk, so plan on far fewer.
- How much floor space does a king or queen bed take?
- The estimator uses 50 sq ft for a king bed, 40 for a queen, 30 for a full and 20 for a twin. These are planning figures built into the tool, not measured sizes.
- Why a 10x15 and not a 10x10 for 112 sq ft?
- The unit must have at least the unrounded need as floor area. A 10x10 has 100 sq ft, which is less than 112, so the next size, the 10x15, is shown. The unit is picked for the recommended figure, not the top of the range: a 1 bedroom home with 20 boxes needs 87 sq ft and gets a 10x10, but its range runs to 104 sq ft, so if you have more than you counted, look at the 10x15.
- What if the estimate is bigger than 400 sq ft?
- A 5+ bedroom home with 10 extra rooms and 200 boxes needs 620 sq ft, a range of 527 to 744. Above the largest standard unit, the 10x40 at 400 sq ft, the page says to plan for two units or a larger one.
- Does it remember my entries?
- Yes. The form is saved in this browser, and Clear Saved Values removes it. A box count that is blank or not a whole number from 0 to 200 shows a message and no result.
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