Storage Unit Sizes

Picking the wrong size storage unit is an expensive mistake in both directions. Too small, and you are back at the office asking to upgrade after your furniture will not fit through the door. Too large, and you are paying month after month for space that sits empty. b.Mac's Self Storage in Des Moines offers a real range of sizes, from a small 5x5 for seasonal boxes up to a 10x35 built for a fully furnished house or a large vehicle, and knowing what actually fits in each one before you book saves both the wasted trip and the wasted money.

At a Glance

A 5x5 unit holds roughly the contents of a small closet, about 15 to 20 boxes, while a 10x10 fits two bedrooms worth of furniture, and a 10x30 or larger handles a fully furnished house or a large vehicle.

Every size listed here is a unit b.Mac's actually offers at its Des Moines location, matched to real furniture and box counts rather than a generic industry estimate.

5x5: The Smallest Unit That Still Does Real Work

A 5x5 unit gives you 25 square feet, close to the size of a small closet. That is enough room for a dresser, a small mattress set, and somewhere between 15 and 20 standard moving boxes. This size works well for holiday decorations, seasonal gear, camping equipment, or the overflow from a single room during a renovation. It is not enough space for a full bedroom of furniture, so anyone storing more than a dresser and a handful of boxes should look at the next size up rather than trying to make a 5x5 stretch further than it reasonably can.

5x10: The Studio and One Bedroom Standard

A 5x10 unit, at 50 square feet, comfortably fits the furniture from a studio or a one bedroom apartment. That typically means a queen size mattress set, a loveseat, a dresser, a television, a bike, and around 30 or more boxes. This is one of the more commonly rented sizes for anyone doing a partial move, storing furniture between apartments, or holding onto belongings during a short term transition. If you are storing a full one bedroom apartment's worth of furniture plus a meaningful number of boxes, this size is usually the right starting point before considering anything larger.

10x10: Two Bedrooms and a Family Room

At 100 square feet, a 10x10 unit can hold furniture from two bedrooms and an entire family room. That includes multiple mattress sets, dressers, nightstands, a sofa, and chairs, along with roughly 50 to 60 boxes stored alongside the furniture. This size tends to be the right call for a two bedroom apartment move, a household consolidating two rooms worth of belongings, or anyone storing furniture from a shared living space during a longer transition. It is also one of the sizes where measuring your largest pieces before booking matters most, since a sectional sofa or an oversized dresser can eat into the available space faster than expected.

10x14 and 9x14: Between Medium and Large

Sitting between the 10x10 and the 10x15, these sizes give you extra depth without jumping all the way to a full 10x15. They suit a household with more than a standard two bedroom load but not quite enough to justify the larger unit, larger furniture sets, an extra appliance, or a business storing equipment and inventory that outgrew a 10x10 but does not need the full footprint of a 10x15.

10x15: A Two or Three Bedroom House

A 10x15 unit provides 150 square feet, enough to hold the contents of a two or three bedroom house. That includes oversized items like a big screen television, couches, an entertainment center, office furniture, a dining table and chairs, and large kitchen appliances, plus a minimum of 60 standard boxes. This size is a common choice for a full household move where the home has more square footage than an apartment but is not a large single family house. Anyone storing a home office's worth of furniture and equipment alongside household goods should also look here rather than trying to fit everything into a 10x10.

10x20: A Three or Four Bedroom Household

At 200 square feet, a 10x20 unit fits items from a three or four bedroom house or apartment, including multiple mattress sets, dining room furniture, major appliances, and even workout equipment, with room for 80 to 100 boxes. This is generally the size for a full single family household move rather than a partial one, or for anyone consolidating the contents of a larger home during a downsizing project. It is also large enough for most vehicle storage needs when paired with the drive up access b.Mac's offers on these units.

10x24 and 10x25: A Large Four Bedroom House

Sizes in this range, at roughly 240 to 250 square feet, hold the contents of a large four bedroom house: several bedroom sets, living room and game room furniture, and a minimum of 100 boxes. This size is less common for a typical household move and more often used for a large home renovation, an estate in transition, or a business storing a significant volume of inventory or equipment.

10x30, 10x35, and 12x30: Full Houses and Large Vehicles

The largest units b.Mac's offers, running from 300 to 350 square feet, hold items from a fully furnished five bedroom house, including multiple mattress sets, couches, dining sets, major appliances, and seasonal equipment, well over 100 boxes worth of household goods. These sizes also work for vehicle storage, since an RV, a boat on a trailer, or a larger vehicle needs both the length and the drive up clearance that this size range provides. Anyone storing a vehicle specifically should measure it with any extensions (a tongue jack, a ladder, an outboard motor tilted up) included, since the listed vehicle length rarely accounts for what actually sticks out once it is hitched or loaded.

How to Actually Land on the Right Size

Measuring the largest individual pieces you are storing, rather than estimating by number of bedrooms alone, catches the mistakes that a size chart on its own cannot. A household with an unusually large sectional or a business with tall shelving units can outgrow a size that would otherwise fit a similar sized household comfortably. For anyone storing a mix of bulky furniture and items sensitive to temperature, it is also worth considering climate controlled storage for the sensitive portion rather than assuming one unit type has to cover everything. When a size is genuinely unclear from a list like this one, calling the office directly with a rough inventory is faster and more accurate than guessing and having to upgrade mid move.

Reserve the Right Size in Des Moines

b.Mac's Self Storage offers this full range of sizes with month to month terms and no deposit, so choosing the right size is a decision you can revisit if your needs change, rather than one you are locked into for a year. Anyone weighing drive up against climate controlled for a specific size can also read our guide to drive up access storage for more on how that choice affects the decision.

Ready to book the right size? Check current availability and reserve a unit at b.Mac's Self Storage in Des Moines online, or call the office with a rough inventory if you are still unsure.