Are you looking for a storage unit for your belongings but aren’t sure which storage unit size you need? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Choosing the wrong storage unit could cost you more money, time and energy — get one too big and you spend more than you should, get one too small and you have to get another one.
But with our complete storage unit guide, you’re sure to find a storage unit that’s not too big nor too small, but just right! Let’s get started with the basics.
While storage unit sizes vary slightly from facility to facility, you typically find 3 different types of storage unit sizes:
Small storage units:
1,5 m² Storage Unit: Fits a few miscellaneous items such as sporting equipment, holiday decorations, some suitcases, a small desk or a bookcase.
3 m² Storage Unit: Fits around 1 small-sized room or a small vehicle such as a motorbike or bicycle.
Medium storage units:
6 m² Storage Unit: Fits around a studio apartment, 1-bedroom apartment or dorm room
9 m² Storage Unit: Fits around a 2-bedroom apartment.
Large storage units:
12 m² Storage Unit: Fits around a 3-bedroom apartment.
18 m² Storage Unit: Fits around a 3-bedroom family home.
27 m² Storage Unit: Fits around a 3-5 bedroom home with garage contents or fits vehicles such as cars, boats or caravans
You also get specific storage units for different things, including:
Personal storage for furniture.
Business storage for furniture, merchandise and files.
Vehicle storage for cars, motorcycles, boats, trailers and caravans.
Student storage designed specifically for short-term storage at affordable prices.
Wine storage
Now that you know the different types of storage sizes, the big question is — which size storage unit do you need? Getting the right size means finding that sweet spot between price and space, here's how you can get there:
To know what size storage unit you need, you’re first going to need to know what you’re going to store. So you’re going to want to go through all your belongings and write a list of every item you plan on taking as well as the number of each item, including the number of moving boxes.
The fewer the items, the less money it’ll cost, so try to downscale your items as much as possible.
You can get rid of anything you no longer need or want by:
Giving it to friends or family.
Donating to a charity or second-hand shop.
Recycling anything that can be recycled and throwing away those that can’t.
Once you know what you’re going to store, you need to find out how much space it’s going to take up by calculating the total volume. Total volume is measured in cubic metres (m³).
To calculate the volume of each item in cubic metres, you use the equation:
Volume = Length x Width x Height
Then all you have to do is add together the volume of each item to get the total volume of your belongings.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to dust off your tape measure and go through the mission of measuring the length, width and height of every box, chair and table. All you have to do is use Wise Move’s convenient Volume Calculator!
With Wise Move’s Volume Calculator, all you have to do is type in the number of each item on your list, and you’ll receive an estimated total volume. While it’s pretty accurate, it’s important to remember that this amount is still only an estimate based on the average size of the main household items. This is especially true if your items are oddly sized.
Each storage facility is slightly different, so next, it’s important to find the right one for your storage needs. There are a few factors you should consider before choosing your storage facility, including:
Best price: Compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best value for money.
Best location: You want to choose a location that is conveniently accessible, nearby and safe.
Best duration: With some storage facilities specialising in short-term and long-term storage, you want to choose a facility that caters to your required storage duration.
Best sizes: The size of storage units will vary slightly depending on the facility, so to ensure you’re getting the most for your money, it’s best to choose a facility with the exact size you need.
Best security: You want to ensure your belongings are safe and secure by choosing a facility with top security measures like 24/7 CCTV surveillance and armed security.
Best services: Some storage facilities offer extra services to make the move to storage as easy as possible, such as packing and moving services.
Read more on our blog for the complete list of top storage facilities near you in each major city in South Africa.
Now that you’ve calculated your total volume and chosen your storage facility, you can then choose the perfect size storage unit for you.
Do one last check by visiting your chosen storage unit to get a good visual of the space, make sure everything will fit and see if it all works properly.
Still have questions? Here are some of the top FAQs for storage sizes and their answers.
You can calculate your total volume in cubic metres manually using the equation length x width x height, or you can save time with Wise Move’s Volume Calculator.
For a small-sized room, you need a 3 m² -sized storage unit, and for a medium to large-sized room, a 6 m²-sized storage unit would be best.
A 3-bedroom house should fit best into a storage size of 16 m² to 18 m².
The most popular size for a storage unit is 9 m² because of its ability to store a variety of items as a medium-sized storage unit.
The average cost of a storage unit in South Africa ranges between R650 - R2 000 per month, depending on the size and number of units.
Have you found the perfect storage unit and now need a trusted furniture removal service to move your belongings across? Why not check out Wise Move’s moving company platform, which connects you with the most affordable and trusted furniture removal services across South Africa?
With Wise Move, no move is too big or too small — from a small load with a few boxes and chairs to an entire 5-bedroom house, our movers will ensure your belongings go from door to storage in pristine condition at the best price. Plus, our super quick and easy-to-use platform means you can get your quote and find your moving service in no time and with no stress!
Check out Wise Move and get your furniture removal quote today!
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