One-Bedroom Apartment Storage Unit: What Size Do You Need?

Choosing a storage unit size for a one-bedroom apartment is one of the harder parts of planning a move. Very few of us think about our belongings in square feet. First, what you’re putting inside decides the size you need. So does how much of it there is, and how often you plan to get to it. XYZ Storage sizes units against real rooms and real truck loads rather than floor area. You can picture the space before you book it. Below we break down every unit size XYZ Storage offers and what each one holds. We also cover the sizes people misjudge most often. Finally, we explain what happens if the unit turns out to be the wrong fit after you move in.

What size storage unit do you need for a one-bedroom apartment?

A 10 × 10 storage unit. The XYZ Storage size guide matches the 10 × 10 storage unit to a one- or two-bedroom apartment. It also compares the unit to an average-size bedroom, which is a useful way to picture it without a tape measure. It also holds about what fits in a 15 ft truck.

If you’re storing part of a one-bedroom apartment rather than all of it, a 5 × 10 may be enough. That size compares to a walk-in closet, and XYZ Storage matches it to a sofa, a couch, boxes, filing cabinets, and wardrobes together. In practice, that covers a lot of one-bedroom moves where the furniture stays put and only the overflow goes into storage.

If you’re not certain which of the two fits your move, our storage experts can talk it through with you before you book.

Which XYZ Storage unit size matches a one-bedroom apartment or a larger home?

XYZ Storage offers six unit sizes. Each one matches a room, a home size, and a load you may have moved before:

Sizes people misjudge most often

A few sizes cause more confusion than the others:

• The 5 × 5: The hall closet comparison makes people rule it out for anything beyond boxes. However, XYZ Storage lists chairs and filing cabinets for this size as well.
• The 5 × 10: The walk-in closet comparison undersells what it takes. XYZ Storage matches this size to a sofa, a couch, wardrobes, and boxes together.
• The 10 × 10: An average-size bedroom is the comparison, not the limit. XYZ Storage matches this unit to a one- or two-bedroom apartment.
• The 10 × 15: It covers a two-bedroom home as well as a two- or three-bedroom apartment. Moving out of a house doesn’t automatically mean you need a garage-sized unit.
• The 10 × 20 and the 10 × 30: XYZ Storage matches both to a car as well as a home. The size that holds your belongings may also hold a vehicle.

If you’re between two sizes, our storage experts can walk you through both.

Should you size up or size down?

Size up if you plan to visit often. Size down if you’ll pack the unit once and close it. How often you’ll open the door changes the size you need as much as the belongings themselves do. A unit you’ll visit every week needs room to reach past the front row. By contrast, a unit you’ll pack for the season can go right up to the door.

Access is one of the questions our storage experts ask on every sizing call. They also ask what you’re storing and how long you’re storing it. They’ll suggest practical ways to save a size, like taking a table apart or standing a sofa on its side.

Moving belongings in and out can be easier than a floor plan alone suggests. A few things help at every XYZ Storage location:

• Hallway width: Hallways measure 5 ft wide at every XYZ Storage location, which can make bringing larger furniture through more manageable.
• Dollies: XYZ Storage has dollies at every location, and provides them on request at Scarborough
• Elevator and door measurements: Our storage experts can give you the elevator and door dimensions at your location before you book. Then you can plan for a mattress or a sofa rather than guess at it.
• Single-storey access: At Scarborough, every unit sits on one floor.

If you’d rather work it out before you call, the storage calculator lets you build your load item by item. The what size unit should I get answer covers the same question in short form. Either way, our storage experts can confirm the size against both what you’re storing and how often you plan to visit.

What if the storage unit size turns out to be wrong after you move in?

You can change it. The XYZ Storage right size guarantee covers a free move to a different unit. That applies if you need a different unit after you move in. So an estimate that misses by one size isn’t something you’re stuck with.

The rest of the terms work the same way, too. Storage with XYZ Storage is month to month, with no term commitment. XYZ Storage prorates rent to the day. Changing part way through a month doesn’t cost you a full month.

Even so, getting the size right the first time is easier with a conversation. Tell our storage experts what you’re storing and how often you’ll be visiting, and they’ll recommend a size. You can reach them through the XYZ Storage contact page, or call the location you’re considering directly.

One-bedroom apartment storage unit questions

Do I need a bigger unit if I want to walk in and reach my belongings?

Possibly, and it’s one of the first things our storage experts ask about. A unit you’ll open every week needs room to reach past the front row. By contrast, a unit you’ll pack once and close can go right up to the door. Our storage experts handle sizing for access case by case. Tell them how often you plan to visit and they’ll factor it into the size they recommend.

What is the largest storage unit XYZ Storage offers?

The 10 × 30, which compares to a large garage. XYZ Storage matches it to a three- or four-bedroom home, or a large car, and to about a 26 ft truck load.

Can I change my storage unit size after I move in?

Yes. The XYZ Storage right size guarantee covers a free move to a different size if the unit turns out not to fit. XYZ Storage prorates rent to the day, with no term commitment. A change part way through a month doesn’t cost you a full month. Our storage experts at your location can arrange it.

How do I work out what size I need before I book?

There are two straightforward ways to do it, and both are quick. The storage calculator lets you build your load item by item. Our storage experts can also size it over the phone. They’ll ask what you’re storing, how long you’re storing it, and how often you’ll need access.

Is it better to size up or size down a one-bedroom apartment storage unit?

Size up if you’ll be visiting often, or if you’re not yet sure what’s coming. Size down if you’ll pack the unit once and close it. The right size guarantee covers a free change of size. So starting with your best estimate is reasonable, and our storage experts can review it with you.

Does the length of time I’m storing change the size I need?

How long you’re storing is one of the questions our storage experts ask when they recommend a size. They also ask what you’re storing and how often you’ll need access. Give them the length of the stay and the number of visits you expect. Then they’ll factor both into the size they suggest.

Do XYZ Storage locations have equipment for moving furniture in?

Yes. XYZ Storage has dollies at every location, and hallways measure 5 ft wide throughout. At Scarborough, XYZ Storage provides dollies on request, and every unit sits on a single floor. Our storage experts can also give you the elevator and door measurements at your location before your move-in day.