Storage Unit Sizes — Which Size Do You Actually Need?

Australian self-storage units come in 7 standard sizes: locker (under 2 m², $50–$120/mo), small (2–5 m², $100–$250/mo), medium (5–10 m², $200–$400/mo), large (10–20 m², $300–$550/mo), extra-large (20–36 m², $400–$750/mo), garage-plus (36+ m², $600–$900+/mo), and vehicle storage ($150–$500/mo). The medium unit is the most popular size, fitting a one-bedroom apartment move.

What Size Storage Unit Do I Need?

The storage unit size you need depends on what you're storing. For a few boxes and seasonal items, a locker or small unit (under 5 m²) is sufficient. For a one-bedroom apartment, choose a medium unit (5–10 m²). For a two-bedroom house, you need a large unit (10–20 m²). For a full 3+ bedroom house move, go extra-large (20+ m²). Most people overestimate — if you can list your items on one hand, start small.

All Storage Unit Sizes at a Glance

Locker (Under 2 m²)

The smallest and cheapest storage option. Lockers are typically 1 m × 1 m to 1 m × 2 m — you can reach into them but not walk inside. Some are wire-cage style, others are enclosed with a padlock.

What fits

• Documents & archives — 5–10 archive boxes, tax records, business paperwork
• Small valuables — jewellery cases, collectibles, photo albums
• Seasonal clothing — winter coats, ski gear (bags only, not skis)
• Small electronics — extra monitors, gaming consoles, camera gear

Not suitable for: any furniture, mattresses, appliances, or anything that doesn't fit through a locker door (typically 60–80 cm wide).

Small (2–5 m²)

Small units — roughly 1.5 m × 1.5 m up to 1.5 m × 3 m — are walk-in spaces. You can stand inside and organise your items. This is the most common size for people decluttering or storing defined collections of items (rather than entire rooms).

What fits

• Seasonal storage — ski equipment, camping gear, Christmas decorations, winter wardrobes
• Sporting equipment — surfboards (standing), bikes, golf clubs
• Single furniture piece — a bookshelf, desk, bedside tables, dining chairs
• Business stock — e-commerce inventory, market stall supplies, sample collections
• 15–25 boxes stacked to ceiling height

The 5×5 and 5×10 units that many providers advertise both fall in this bracket. A 5×5 (2.25 m²) is at the low end; a 5×10 (4.5 m²) is at the high end. For a detailed comparison, see our 5x5 vs 5x10 guide.

Medium (5–10 m²)

The most popular size for residential storage. Medium units (commonly listed as 3 m × 3 m or 2 m × 5 m) fit the contents of a studio or one-bedroom apartment. You can walk around inside and access items without unpacking everything.

What fits

• Studio/1-bed apartment move — queen bed + mattress, small sofa, dining table, 30–40 boxes
• Renovation staging — contents of a kitchen or living room while you renovate
• Small business — inventory, tools, display equipment, office furniture (1–2 desks)
• Downsizing — surplus furniture and belongings when moving to a smaller home

The sweet spot: medium units offer the best balance of space and cost. You get enough room to organise and access items, without paying for warehouse-scale space. If you're unsure between small and medium, the medium is almost always the safer bet — the cost difference is typically 30–50%, but you get double the floor area.

Large (10–20 m²)

Large units (3 m × 4 m up to 4 m × 5 m) are roughly the size of a single garage. This is where you move from "storing items" to "storing a household". If you're clearing out a 2-bedroom house, you need this or bigger.

What fits

• 2-bedroom house — all furniture, appliances (fridge, washing machine), and 40–60 boxes
• Office relocation — 3–4 desks, filing cabinets, meeting chairs, IT equipment
• Tradie equipment — workbenches, power tools, building materials, shelving
• Extended travel — entire household while overseas for 6–12 months

Extra-Large (20–36 m²)

Extra-large units (5 m × 5 m up to 6 m × 6 m) fit a 3–4 bedroom house. At this scale, you're competing with shipping containers and small warehouses. Not all facilities offer this size — you may need to look at industrial-area providers.

What fits

• 3–4 bedroom house — complete household including large appliances, outdoor furniture, garden equipment
• Business inventory — seasonal retail stock, bulk materials, equipment staging
• Vehicles + belongings — a car or motorcycle with room for boxes around it

Garage-Plus (36+ m²)

The largest self-storage units — essentially warehouse bays. These are uncommon at traditional self-storage facilities and more often found at industrial storage parks or purpose-built commercial centres.

What fits

• 5+ bedroom house — entire home contents with room to organise
• Vehicles — boat, caravan, or car alongside household goods
• Commercial — workshop, bulk inventory, trade stock

Vehicle Storage

Vehicle storage covers dedicated car spaces, boat berths, caravan pads, and container bays. These are sized differently from standard units — pricing is per vehicle rather than per square metre.

Types

• Undercover car space — $150–$300/month. Covered but not enclosed. Good for daily drivers needing parking.
• Enclosed garage — $200–$400/month. Lockable, individual access. Best for long-term car storage.
• Boat/caravan pad — $150–$350/month. Outdoor hardstand, sometimes with power. Seasonal use common.
• Container bay — $200–$500/month. You supply the container; they supply the pad and security.

How to Choose the Right Size

Step 1: List what you're storing

Write down every item. Not "bedroom stuff" — actual items: queen mattress, bed frame, 2 bedside tables, 15 boxes. This prevents the most common mistake: renting too large because "better safe than sorry" and paying for empty space every month.

Step 2: Identify the largest single item

Your unit must fit your biggest item through the door and onto the floor. A queen mattress (153 cm × 203 cm) needs at least a small unit. A 3-seater sofa (210 cm long) needs at least a medium. A fridge needs a clear path from the loading area.

Step 3: Estimate box count

Standard moving boxes (40 cm × 40 cm × 60 cm) stack well. As a rough guide:

• Locker: 5–10 boxes
• Small: 15–25 boxes
• Medium: 30–50 boxes (stacked to ceiling)
• Large: 50–80 boxes

Step 4: Factor in access needs

Will you visit regularly to pick or add items? If yes, you need aisle space inside the unit — which effectively reduces your usable area by 20–30%. Size up one bracket if you need frequent access.

Step 5: Compare prices, not just sizes

Two "medium" units from different providers can vary by $150/month. A slightly larger unit from a cheaper provider can cost less than a smaller unit from an expensive one. Always compare actual prices, not just size labels.

Storage Prices by Size & City

These are indicative monthly price ranges based on our tracking data across major Australian providers. Actual prices depend on location within each city, facility age, and current promotions.

For exact prices near you, compare prices by suburb — we track live rates from Kennards, National Storage, StorageKing, Fort Knox, StoreLocal, and more.

How Australian Storage Unit Sizes Compare

Australian storage providers measure units in square metres (m²), not square feet as in the US and UK. This matters when comparing sizes online, because most international size guides use imperial measurements. A "5×10" unit listed by Australian providers like Kennards or National Storage means 5 feet × 10 feet (4.6 m²), not 5 metres × 10 metres. Always check the actual m² figure when comparing units.

Unlike overseas markets where standardised sizes are common, Australian storage unit dimensions vary significantly between providers. Kennards uses names like "Walk-in Robe" and "Half Garage" rather than exact measurements. National Storage lists units by floor area in m². Storage King uses a mix of both. This inconsistency makes it difficult to compare unless you convert everything to $/m²/month — which is exactly what our comparison tool does automatically. We normalise every provider's sizing into seven standard brackets so you can compare like-for-like across different facility naming conventions.

One notable Australian difference: climate-controlled units are less common than in US markets. Only about 15–20% of Australian storage facilities offer climate control, compared to 40%+ in the US. This affects which sizes are available with climate features — if you need a climate-controlled medium unit, your options may be limited to specific providers. Our city and suburb pages show amenity details for each facility including climate control availability.

3 Mistakes That Cost You Money

1. Renting too big "just in case". An unused extra 5 m² costs $100–$200/month. That's $1,200–$2,400 per year in wasted space. Size accurately, and downsize if you find yourself with empty floor area after moving in.
2. Ignoring $/m². A $350/month "large" unit at 15 m² ($23/m²) is better value than a $250/month "medium" at 6 m² ($42/m²) — if you need the space. Compare rates per square metre, not just headline prices.
3. Not comparing providers. The same suburb can have a $100+ price gap between providers for equivalent units. Five minutes on a comparison tool can save hundreds per year.

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Last updated: March 2026. Prices are indicative ranges based on our tracking data and may vary by provider and location. Always confirm pricing directly with the facility.