How to pack a storage unit
Two things decide whether a storage unit works: picking a size that actually holds your things, and packing it so you can still reach them. Here is how to get both right before you sign for the unit.
First, pick a size that fits
Storage units are rented by the square foot, so the temptation is to go small and save money. The problem is a unit you cannot fit your things into, or cannot walk into, costs you far more in hassle. Measure your largest items first, since those set the size, then choose the unit that holds them with a little room to move.
Pack heavy to light, big to small
- Heavy and sturdy on the bottom: appliances, dressers and boxes of books form the base.
- Stand furniture on its edge: sofas and mattresses take far less floor space upright.
- Fill the hollow items: drawers, wardrobes and boxes hold soft goods so no space is wasted.
- Fragile and light on top: nothing heavy sits on anything that can crush.
- Front-load what you need: anything you might collect soon goes near the door.
Leave an aisle
The single thing people regret is packing the unit solid to the door. Leave a narrow aisle from the door to the back so you can reach a box without unloading everything, and keep a small gap from the walls for air flow. A little planned empty space makes the whole unit usable.
Plan it before you load
Draw the unit to scale, drop your largest items in, and arrange them with an aisle. You will know the size is right, and you will know the order to load in, before you carry a single box.
Check the size to scale
Draw the unit in Plan, place your things, and see the size that fits with room to reach them.
Common questions
What size storage unit do I need?
As a rough guide, a small unit around 25 to 35 square feet holds a room of boxes and small furniture, a medium unit around 50 to 75 square feet holds a one bedroom flat, and a large unit around 100 to 150 square feet holds a two to three bedroom home. The dependable way to choose is to measure your largest items and lay them out to scale first.
How do I pack a storage unit so nothing gets damaged?
Put heavy, sturdy items on the bottom and light or fragile ones on top. Stand sofas and mattresses on their edges to save floor space, fill hollow items like drawers and wardrobes with soft goods, and keep anything you might need at the front.
Should I leave space in a storage unit?
Yes. Leave a narrow aisle from the door to the back so you can reach things without unloading the whole unit, and keep a small gap from the walls for air flow. A unit packed solid to the door is cheaper by the foot but painful to use.