Guide
What size storage unit do I need? Sizes by home and contents
Safestore puts the contents of a one bedroom flat in 35 sq ft, a two bedroom house in 75 sq ft and a four bedroom house in 175 to 200 sq ft, and Big Yellow describes 75 sq ft as the size of a Luton van. Size by what you own rather than by bedrooms, stack high, and leave a gap to reach what you will need first.
Storage unit sizes by home
Storage firms size units by floor area in square feet, and publish guides that match each size to a home. Safestore's guide and Big Yellow's comparisons line up closely:
| Unit | Safestore: holds the contents of | Big Yellow: about the size of |
|---|---|---|
| 25 sq ft | A studio flat | A small garden shed |
| 50 sq ft | A large one bedroom flat | A Transit van |
| 75 sq ft | A two bedroom house | A Luton van |
| 100 sq ft | A two to three bedroom house | A standard single garage |
| 150 sq ft | A large three bedroom house | Two Luton van loads |
| 200 sq ft | A four bedroom house | A standard double garage |
Safestore also lists 15 sq ft for a bedsit and 35 sq ft for a one bedroom flat. The Self Storage Association UK says the average unit is roughly 80 sq ft.
Why square feet can mislead
Square feet measure the floor, but you pay to fill the space up to the ceiling. Safestore says most items can be stacked to around 8 to 10ft, and a unit you can only fill to shoulder height wastes much of what you are paying for.
The arithmetic explains Big Yellow's van comparison. A 75 sq ft unit stacked to 8ft holds 600 cubic feet, about 17 cubic metres, which is close to the load space of a Luton van. So if your move needs one full Luton, start at 75 sq ft; if it needs two, look at 150.
Not every unit is full height. Big Yellow's smallest size, 9 sq ft, is a locker 3ft high, so check the height of anything under 25 sq ft before booking it for furniture.
How to work out the size you need
Bedroom counts are a rough guide, because two homes of the same size can hold very different amounts. A better method takes ten minutes:
- List the big pieces: beds, sofas, wardrobes, tables, white goods, bikes.
- Count or estimate the boxes.
- Note what can stand on end: mattresses, sofas and table tops take far less floor stood upright.
- Decide what you will need to reach while it is stored, and allow a walkway for it.
- Ask the firm moving you how much van space your load fills, and match it to the table above.
If you fall between sizes, go up one when you will need access during the storage period, and take the smaller only if the unit will be packed tight once and left.
What can you not put in a storage unit?
The Self Storage Association UK says it is illegal to store firearms, drugs, explosives, dangerous weapons or anything else illegal or harmful to public health, and advises against food and perishables. Each operator adds its own rules in its terms, so read them before packing anything flammable.
The SSA also says the goods in a unit stay your responsibility and that you will need insurance against loss or damage while they are stored. Your home contents policy may or may not extend to a storage unit, so check before buying the site's own cover. If you are storing a fridge or freezer, check the site allows it, then defrost, clean and dry it first.
How do you pack a storage unit so you can use it?
Load it the way you would load a van, heaviest first. Put large furniture along the back wall, then stack boxes on top of each other in columns, with the heaviest boxes at the bottom and same-size boxes together so the stacks stay stable.
- Stand mattresses and sofas on end, in covers.
- Label every box on the side as well as the top, since lids disappear in a stack.
- Keep a walkway down the middle if you will need things back during the storage period.
- Put what you will want first, such as seasonal clothes or paperwork, nearest the door.
A photo of the unit once it is loaded, kept on your phone, saves unpacking half of it to find one box.
What does a storage unit cost?
Fantastic Services puts a 50 to 75 sq ft unit at £100 to £220 a month outside London (September 2026). The van side of a storage move starts at about £60 to £140 for two hours, at Compare the Man and Van's hourly rates (October 2025).
When comparing sites, check whether the first price is an introductory rate, what notice you must give to leave, and the gate and office hours, since the van can only unload while the site is open. Give the moving firm the unit's size and whether it is a drive-up unit or upstairs in the building, because a long trolley run from the loading bay adds time to the job.
Common questions
What size storage unit do I need for a two bedroom house?
Safestore suggests 75 sq ft for a two bedroom house and 100 sq ft for a two to three bedroom house. Big Yellow describes 75 sq ft as one Luton van load.
How big is a 50 sq ft storage unit?
About the floor area of a Transit van, in Big Yellow's comparison, or half a single garage in Safestore's. Safestore says it holds the contents of a large one bedroom flat.
What fits in a 100 sq ft storage unit?
Safestore says the contents of a two to three bedroom house. Big Yellow compares it to a standard single garage.
Do I need insurance for a storage unit?
Yes. The Self Storage Association UK says goods in a unit remain your responsibility and that you will be required to have cover against loss or damage.