What Size Storage Unit Do I Need for a Toronto Condo or House?

Choosing the right storage unit can feel a tad overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to figure out how much of your home will fit inside a self-storage unit. 

Start with what you’re storing. For a Toronto condo, a 5 × 10 unit can hold about a room’s worth of belongings and works well for many one-bedroom clear-outs. For a semi-detached home, a 10 × 15 is a good starting point, while a detached house may need a 10 × 20 or larger.

There’s one other thing worth checking before you book: how you’ll get your belongings to your unit. Elevator and door sizes vary between our buildings, so measure your longest or bulkiest items before moving day. And if you don’t get the size exactly right, don’t worry. We can move you into a different size at no charge. The goal is to get you into a unit that works for what you’re storing – not to make you guess the first time perfectly.

What size storage unit do I need?

The best way to choose a storage unit size is to think about what you’re storing rather than the square footage. Here’s a quick guide to the storage unit sizes our team commonly recommends:

If you’ve already booked the truck, that sizes the unit for you. A 17 ft truckload fits a 10 × 15.

We rent in-between sizes too. An 8 × 10 sits between the 5 × 10 and the 10 × 10, and there’s a 10 × 25 as well. Toronto West carries our widest range, up to 20 × 30. It’s worth asking the building you’d use which sizes it holds today.

What size unit for a Toronto condo?

For a condo, storage is often about making a little more room at home rather than storing an entire household. That usually means a smaller unit that you can keep for longer.

For seasonal items, sports equipment, a bike, or a few boxes, a 4 × 3 or 5 × 5 may be all you need. If you’re storing the contents of one bedroom, or clearing out a condo before putting it on the market, a 5 × 10 is a good option. For the contents of an entire one- or two-bedroom condo, including furniture, a 10 × 10 is a better fit.

There are two things that make a condo move much easier. If you’re moving furniture, book the service elevator at both ends for the same day. And if you’re storing things you need access to regularly, like a bike or a stroller, ask for a unit close to the entrance. Our Value and Premium plans put you nearer the lifts and doors, which is exactly what you’re paying for in that situation.

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

A 10 × 10. It holds a one- to two-bedroom apartment, and it’s roughly equivalent to about a 15 ft truckload.

If you’re only storing the contents of one bedroom and the rest of the furniture is staying in the apartment, a 5 × 10 may be enough. This can be particularly useful when you’re clearing out a room to stage a home or condo for sale.

What size do I need for a dorm room, or just boxes and a bike?

For a dorm room, a 5 × 5 holds a dorm room: a single bed’s worth of contents, a desk chair, and boxes.

If you’re only storing boxes and a bike, a compact storage unit will be sufficient. The 4 × 3 compact locker is the right size, priced at $15 to $45 a month on our prices and rates page. 

Where can students store their things over the summer in Toronto?

Students can store their belongings at any of our seven locations across Toronto and the GTA. We also offer a student rate running at 25% off for four months.

Rent is prorated to the day with no term commitment, so a four-month summer costs you four months rather than a year.

Two locations that can be especially convenient for student moves are Scarborough and Toronto Dundas. Scarborough, at 135 Beechgrove Drive, is single-storey across seven buildings, so you can get your belongings from your vehicle to your unit without an elevator. Toronto Dundas, at 3524 Dundas St West in the Junction, opened in 2025 and typically has a wide range of sizes available.

Is storage worth it while I renovate my kitchen?

It can be a simple way to get furniture and belongings out of the way while work is being done.

For a kitchen alone, a 5 × 10 holds the cupboard contents, the small appliances, and a dining set, which covers four to six weeks of work comfortably. And if you’re renovating a kitchen plus two bedrooms, a 10 × 10 may be the better size. Temperature control can also be important during a renovation, particularly if you’re storing cabinetry, appliances, or other items that will be sitting in storage for a while. Six of our seven buildings are temperature controlled throughout.

If possible, size the unit around the rooms you’re actually renovating rather than moving everything out of the house. And because renovation timelines can change, month-to-month storage gives you the flexibility to keep the unit for exactly as long as you need it.

What size unit for a semi or a detached house?

For a whole-house move, one of the easiest ways to choose a storage unit is to think about the size of the moving truck.

• A two-bedroom semi: 10 × 15 and is comparable to a 17 ft truckload.
• A three-bedroom semi or a small detached: 10 × 20 and is comparable to a 24 ft truckload.
• A four-bedroom detached, or three bedrooms plus a garage: 10 × 30, and is comparable to a  26 ft truckload.

If you’re storing your belongings between two homes rather than moving everything permanently, the unit size calculation is generally the same. You can also compare the cost of storage with the cost and hassle of moving twice. Check out our guide to figure out whether it’s cheaper to store for a month or move twice.

Will my furniture fit through the door and the elevator?

This is the question most people wish they’d asked first. Elevator door widths vary between our buildings, from 3.9 ft at Toronto Downtown to 10 ft at Etobicoke Lakeshore. Measuring your largest pieces ahead of time can help you choose a location and unit that works for you.

A three-seat sofa is around 7 ft long and 3 ft deep, so it travels upright through the narrower doors and flat through the wider ones. Hallways are 5 ft wide at every building, and every elevator car is 7 ft tall inside.

At Scarborough, every unit is on the ground floor, so you don’t need to use an elevator at all. This can be especially convenient when you’re moving long, heavy or awkward items.

How do I measure what I own before booking?

You don’t need to be an expert to work out roughly how much space you need. A few simple measurements can give you a good starting point.

1. Stack it in one room. Everything going into storage, in one place, boxes closed.
2. Measure the footprint, not the volume. Length and width of the pile, in feet, since units are sold in floor area.
3. Add a walkway. If you’ll want to reach the back, add 2 ft along one side. Otherwise, you’re paying to store a wall of boxes you can’t open.
4. Measure your three longest pieces. Sofa, mattress, tabletop, and write down the longest dimension of each.

Once you’ve done that, compare your longest items with the elevator and door dimensions for the building you’re considering.

And don’t forget to make use of the height of your unit. Boxes can be stacked, which means you can often fit more than you might expect into the same floor area.

What should I allow for when sizing a unit?

When you’re estimating your storage needs, remember to account for:

• Furniture as well as boxes: Boxes can be stacked, but larger furniture such as sofas and mattresses takes up more floor space.
• Things you may add later: If you’re planning to keep the unit for several months, leave yourself some extra room for belongings that may come along later.
• The route to your unit: Check the elevator and door dimensions at the building you plan to use, especially if you have large furniture.
• A walkway:  Leaving about 2 ft along one side can make it much easier to reach the back of your unit.

How do I book the right size?

If you already know the size you’re looking for, you can reserve it online. Reservations are free, you pay when you move in, and there’s no notice period if your plans change.

If you’re between two sizes, call the XYZ Storage location you’d use, or reach customer service at 1-866-310-1999, and describe the three biggest things you’re storing. 

Frequently asked questions

What size storage unit do I need for a one-bedroom condo?

A 5 × 10 for a room’s worth of contents, or a 10 × 10 for the whole unit with furniture. A 10 × 10 holds a one- to two-bedroom apartment, about a 15 ft truckload.

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

A 10 × 10, which holds a one- to two-bedroom apartment and is about a 15 ft truckload. A 5 × 10 covers a one-bedroom where the furniture is staying behind.

What size storage unit holds a three-bedroom house?

A 10 × 20, which is a 24 ft truckload and is often compared to a small garage. For a four-bedroom home, or three bedrooms plus a garage, a 10 × 30, and its 26 ft truckload, is the right size.

How big is a 5×10 storage unit?

Fifty square feet, about the size of a walk-in closet, and tall enough to stack. It holds a sofa, boxes, filing cabinets, and wardrobes, roughly a cargo van or pickup load, and our published range for it is $82 to $132 a month.

What is the smallest storage unit XYZ Storage rents?

A 4 × 3 compact locker is priced at $15 to $45 a month, which suits a few boxes and seasonal kit. The next size up is a 5 × 5, comparable to a hall closet.

What size unit do I need if I’m only storing boxes and a bike?

A 4 × 3 compact locker, priced at $15 to $45 a month. The next size up is a 5 × 5.

What size storage unit do I need for a dorm room?

A 5 × 5, which holds a single bed’s worth of contents, a desk chair, and boxes.

What do students do with their stuff between school years?

Most take a small unit for the summer rather than moving it home. A 5 × 5 holds a dorm room, and a 4 × 3 compact locker holds boxes and a bike. Rent is prorated to the day with no term commitment, so a four-month summer costs four months, and there’s a student rate of 25% off for four months.

Where can students store their things over the summer in Toronto?

At any of our seven buildings. Scarborough at 135 Beechgrove Drive is single-storey, so a term’s contents come off the car without going near a lift, and Toronto Dundas at 3524 Dundas St West in the Junction opened in 2025 and usually has the widest choice of sizes free. If you’re flying home without a car, mobile storage brings the unit to you and stores it until you’re back, from five of our seven buildings.

Will a sofa fit in a storage elevator?

It depends on the building. Our elevator doors run from 3.9 ft wide at Toronto Downtown to 10 ft at Etobicoke Lakeshore, and every car is 7 ft tall inside. A three-seat sofa usually goes through the narrower doors on its end rather than flat. Scarborough is single-storey with ground-floor access, so you skip the elevator entirely.

How do I work out what size storage unit I need?

Stack everything in one room, measure the footprint in feet, add 2 ft along one side for a walkway, then measure your three longest pieces and check them against the elevator door width at the building you have in mind.

Is storage worth it while I renovate my kitchen?

For a kitchen alone, a 5 × 10 holds the cupboard contents, small appliances, and a dining set. For a kitchen plus two bedrooms, a 10 × 10 is the size. Take it month to month so it ends when the trades do.

What if I get the size wrong?

Just tell your building, and we’ll move you at no charge. There’s no term commitment, and rent is prorated to the day in both directions, so going up a size mid-month costs you the difference for the days rather than a penalty.

Which is why our team would much rather size the unit with you on the call than sell you the bigger one.

Can I change to a bigger storage unit later?

Yes, and there’s no charge for it. There’s no term commitment, and rent is prorated to the day, so moving up a size mid-month costs the difference for the days rather than a penalty. Just tell the team at your building, and they’ll arrange it.

How wide are the hallways at XYZ Storage?

Five feet at every building, and every elevator car is 7 ft tall inside.

Last updated 1 September 2026. Published ranges move with availability and promotions, and the sizes each building holds change with occupancy. For what’s free today at a specific building, call it directly or reach customer service at 1-866-310-1999.