How to Choose the Right Storage Unit Size

By The Cedar Vault Team · 7/28/2026

The single most common question we hear at Cedar Vault Storage is a simple one: “What size do I actually need?” It is worth getting right. Rent too small and you are stacking boxes to the ceiling and shuffling things every visit; rent too large and you are paying every month for air. Here is how to think it through.

Start with what you are storing

Before you look at square footage, make a quick inventory. Are you storing a few seasonal items and boxes, the contents of an apartment, or an entire house of furniture? Furniture and appliances eat space fast, while boxes stack efficiently. A rough count of large items is the best predictor of the size you need.

A quick size cheat sheet

• 5x5: A large closet. Great for seasonal decor, a few boxes, or business records.
• 5x10: A walk-in closet or small bedroom’s worth of belongings — a mattress set, a dresser, and boxes.
• 10x10: About two bedrooms. Couches, a dining set, and appliances with room to move.
• 10x15: A three-bedroom home or a growing business’s inventory and shelving.
• 10x20: Roughly a one-car garage — a full multi-bedroom house during a move or remodel.
• 10x30: Our largest drive-up unit, for a full home, vehicles, or bulk equipment.

When in doubt, size up

If you are torn between two sizes, choose the larger one. The difference in monthly cost is usually small, and the extra room pays for itself the first time you need to reach something at the back without unloading half the unit. A little walking space makes a storage unit dramatically more usable.

Let the tools (and people) help

Our online size guide lets you see live availability and pricing for every size, and you can reserve in about five minutes. If you would rather talk it through, our team knows the property and will help you pick the right unit instead of the biggest one. Either way, month-to-month terms mean you can adjust later if your needs change.