Choosing the right storage unit size can feel confusing when you have never rented storage space before. Many people in Davenport Iowa need extra space for their belongings but they are not sure which size unit to rent. If you pick a unit that is too small, your things will not fit. If you pick a unit that is too big, you will pay more money than you need to. This guide will help you understand the different storage unit sizes available in Davenport and help you choose the perfect size for your needs.
Storage units come in many different sizes. The smallest units are about the size of a small closet, and the largest units are as big as a two-car garage. Most storage facilities in Davenport Iowa offer units in standard sizes, but the exact sizes can be a little different at each facility. When you look at storage unit sizes, you will see two numbers like five by five or ten by twenty. The first number is the width and the second number is the length. Both numbers are measured in feet.
Understanding Storage Unit Measurements
Before we talk about which size is right for you, you need to understand how storage units are measured. Storage facilities tell you the floor space of a unit using length and width. For example, a five by five unit means the unit is five feet wide and five feet long. This gives you twenty-five square feet of floor space. However, you also need to think about height. Most storage units have ceilings that are eight feet tall or higher. This means you can stack boxes and furniture to use the vertical space.
When you think about what will fit in a storage unit, remember that you need to leave space to walk into the unit and reach your items. You cannot fill every single inch of the unit from floor to ceiling at the front because then you would not be able to get inside. Many people forget about this and then realize they need a bigger unit. A good rule is to imagine that you will use about seventy-five percent of the total space.
Small Storage Units
The smallest storage units are perfect for people who only need to store a few boxes or small items. These units work well for college students, people in apartments, or anyone who wants to store seasonal items like holiday decorations or winter clothes.
A five by five storage unit is about the size of a small walk-in closet. This is the smallest size most facilities offer. You can fit about ten to fifteen boxes in this size unit. You might also be able to fit a few small items like a chair, small television, or some sports equipment. This size works well if you are storing things from one room of your home or if you have a small apartment and need to store some items while you reorganize.
A five by ten storage unit is about the size of a regular walk-in closet or a small bathroom. This size is very popular with people who live in apartments or dorm rooms. You can fit the contents of a small one-bedroom apartment in this size. This includes about twenty to thirty boxes, a mattress set, a small sofa, a few chairs, and some other furniture pieces. Many college students in Davenport use this size during summer break when they go home and need to store their dorm room items.
| Unit Size | Square Feet | Best For | What Fits Inside |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 x 5 | 25 | Few boxes, seasonal items | 10-15 boxes, small items, holiday decorations |
| 5 x 10 | 50 | Studio or small apartment | 20-30 boxes, mattress, small sofa, chairs |
| 10 x 10 | 100 | One bedroom apartment | Full bedroom set, appliances, 30-40 boxes |
Medium Storage Units
Medium-sized storage units are the most popular choice for many people in Davenport. These units offer a good balance between space and cost. They work well for people who are moving, people who need to store items during a home renovation, or people who want to clear out their garage.
A ten by ten storage unit is about the size of a half of a standard garage. This is one of the most commonly rented sizes. You can fit the entire contents of a one-bedroom apartment or small house in this unit. This includes a full bedroom set with mattress and box spring, a dresser, a sofa, a dining table with chairs, an entertainment center, and about thirty to forty boxes. Many families use this size when they are moving and need temporary storage between homes.
A ten by fifteen storage unit gives you more space and is about the size of a large bedroom. You can fit the contents of a two-bedroom apartment in this size. This includes two full bedroom sets, living room furniture, dining room furniture, appliances, and many boxes. This size is popular with families who are downsizing from a house to an apartment or people who are moving long distance and need to store their belongings for a few months.
A ten by twenty storage unit is similar to a standard one-car garage in size. This unit can hold the contents of a small two-bedroom house or a large three-bedroom apartment. You can fit multiple bedroom sets, all your living room and dining room furniture, major appliances, outdoor furniture, and about fifty to seventy boxes. This size works well for families who are building a new home or doing major renovations and need to move everything out temporarily.
Large Storage Units
Large storage units are for people who have a lot of belongings to store. These units cost more money each month but they give you plenty of space. Many people use large units when they are moving out of a big house, when they are combining two households, or when they run a small business and need to store inventory or equipment.
A ten by twenty-five storage unit can hold the contents of a large two-bedroom house or a small three-bedroom house. You can fit all the furniture from multiple bedrooms, all your living spaces, appliances, patio furniture, lawn equipment, and many boxes. Some people also use this size to store a car or small boat along with some household items.
A ten by thirty storage unit is very large and can hold the entire contents of a four or five-bedroom house. This includes all furniture, appliances, boxes, outdoor equipment, and more. Some people use this size when they are moving overseas for work and need to store everything they own for a year or more. Others use it when they inherit a parent’s belongings and need time to sort through everything.
| Unit Size | Square Feet | Best For | What Fits Inside |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 x 15 | 150 | Two bedroom apartment | Two bedroom sets, living room, dining room, appliances |
| 10 x 20 | 200 | Small house | Three bedrooms worth, all furniture, 50-70 boxes |
| 10 x 25 | 250 | Large house | Multi-bedroom house contents, possible vehicle |
| 10 x 30 | 300 | Large house or vehicle | Four to five bedroom house, or car plus belongings |
Extra Large Storage Units and Vehicle Storage
Some storage facilities in Davenport offer extra large units that are perfect for vehicles or for people with very large amounts of belongings. These units can be twenty feet wide or more.
A twenty by twenty storage unit is as big as a two-car garage. You can store two vehicles in this space or you can store the contents of a very large house with five or more bedrooms. Some people use this size to store vehicles and household items together. Small business owners might rent this size to store inventory, equipment, or supplies.
A twenty by thirty or larger unit is very rare but some facilities have them. These units are huge and can store multiple vehicles, business inventory, construction equipment, or the combined contents of two or three houses.
20 FT Storage Unit (20 x 10 x 10)
A 20 FT storage unit, which measures twenty feet long, ten feet wide, and ten feet high, is one of the largest and most versatile storage options available at facilities in Davenport Iowa. This size is perfect for people who need to store the contents of a large home, multiple vehicles, or significant amounts of business inventory and equipment.
Understanding the 20 FT Storage Unit Size
When we talk about a 20 FT storage unit with dimensions of 20 x 10 x 10, we mean the unit is twenty feet in length, ten feet in width, and ten feet in height. This gives you two hundred square feet of floor space and two thousand cubic feet of total storage volume. To help you picture this size, imagine a space that is about as long as two full-size pickup trucks parked end to end and as wide as one truck. The ten-foot ceiling height gives you plenty of room to stack boxes, furniture, and other items vertically.
This size unit is comparable to a standard one-car garage but with more length. The extra length makes it easier to organize items and create walkways so you can access things stored at the back of the unit. Many people choose this size when they need substantial storage space but do not want to pay for the very largest units available.
What Can Fit in a 20 FT Storage Unit
A 20 FT storage unit can hold an impressive amount of belongings. You can easily fit the entire contents of a three-bedroom house including all furniture, appliances, boxes, and miscellaneous items. This includes multiple bedroom sets with beds, dressers, and nightstands, all your living room furniture like sofas, chairs, coffee tables, and entertainment centers, complete dining room sets, kitchen appliances and boxes, washer and dryer, outdoor furniture, lawn equipment, bicycles, and approximately seventy-five to one hundred boxes.
Many families use this size when they are building a new home and need to store everything while construction is completed. The unit is large enough to hold all their possessions with room to organize things by category or room. You can create aisles down the middle so you can walk through the unit and access items without having to move everything around.
This size also works well for storing vehicles along with household items. You can fit a standard car, motorcycle, or small boat in a 20 FT unit and still have space left over for boxes, tools, and equipment. Some people store a jet ski or ATV along with their garage contents in this size unit.
Small business owners find the 20 FT unit perfect for storing inventory, supplies, equipment, and documents. A contractor might store tools, building materials, and paperwork in this size. A retail store owner could store seasonal inventory or excess stock. An online seller could organize products on shelving units with plenty of room to move around and pick items for shipping.
Detailed Capacity Breakdown
To help you understand exactly what fits in a 20 FT storage unit, here is a detailed breakdown of items you could store. You can fit five to six complete bedroom furniture sets including beds, mattresses, box springs, dressers, nightstands, and lamps. You can store two or three sofas or sectionals, multiple chairs and recliners, several coffee tables and end tables, and complete entertainment centers with television stands.
For dining areas, you can fit two dining table sets with chairs, china cabinets, buffet tables, and bar carts. Kitchen items include all major appliances like refrigerators, stoves, dishwashers, microwaves, and many boxes of dishes, pots, pans, and small appliances.
You can store washer and dryer sets, water heaters, and other large appliances. Outdoor items like patio furniture sets, grills, lawn mowers, garden tools, bicycles, and outdoor decorations all fit comfortably. Add to this seventy-five to one hundred medium to large moving boxes and you still have room to move around inside the unit.
| Category | What Fits in 20 FT Unit |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms | 5-6 complete bedroom sets with all furniture |
| Living Room | 2-3 sofas, multiple chairs, entertainment centers, tables |
| Dining Room | 2 dining sets, china cabinet, buffet |
| Kitchen | All major appliances, 30-40 boxes of kitchen items |
| Laundry | Washer, dryer, shelving with supplies |
| Outdoor | Patio set, grill, lawn mower, bikes, garden tools |
| Boxes | 75-100 medium to large boxes |
| Vehicles | 1 car OR 2-3 motorcycles OR 1 boat with equipment |
Special Considerations for Davenport Iowa
Living in Davenport means you experience all four seasons with hot summers and cold winters. The weather in Iowa can affect what size storage unit you need and what type of unit is best for your belongings.
If you plan to store items that are sensitive to temperature changes like wooden furniture, electronics, important documents, photographs, musical instruments, or antiques, you should rent a climate-controlled storage unit. Climate-controlled units cost more money each month but they keep your belongings at a steady temperature and humidity level year-round. In Davenport, where summer temperatures can reach ninety degrees and winter temperatures can drop below zero, climate control can protect your valuable items from damage.
Climate-controlled units might be slightly smaller than regular units at the same facility because they are inside buildings with heating and cooling systems. Regular units without climate control are often in outdoor rows where you can drive right up to your unit door. When you compare sizes, ask if the units are climate-controlled or not because this can affect both the price and the size you need.
How to Choose the Right Size
Picking the right storage unit size takes some planning. Here are some steps to help you choose wisely and avoid paying for space you do not need or renting a unit that is too small.
First, make a list of everything you want to store. Walk through your home and write down all the furniture and boxes you plan to put in storage. Be specific and include measurements of large items if possible. Do not forget about things in your basement, attic, or garage that you might want to store too.
Second, think about how you will pack. If you pack efficiently and stack boxes carefully, you will use less space. Disassemble furniture when possible because a bed frame takes up less space when you take it apart. Remove legs from tables and stand mattresses on their side against a wall. Good packing can help you fit into a smaller unit.
Third, consider whether you need to access your items often. If you need to get into your storage unit every week to find things, you should rent a slightly larger unit so you can create aisles between your items. If you are storing everything for months without needing to access it, you can pack more tightly and use a smaller unit.
Fourth, use online storage calculators. Many storage facility websites have tools that help you estimate what size you need. You select the items you want to store from a list and the calculator suggests a unit size. These calculators are helpful but they usually suggest a size that is a little bigger than necessary, so keep that in mind.
Fifth, visit storage facilities in Davenport and look at the actual units. Seeing the space in person helps you understand the size much better than looking at numbers on a website. Most facilities will let you tour different unit sizes before you decide. Bring a tape measure and imagine where your items would go.
Common Mistakes People Make
Many people make the same mistakes when choosing a storage unit size. Learning about these mistakes can help you avoid them.
One big mistake is renting a unit that is too small. People often underestimate how much space their belongings take up. They think they can fit everything tightly but then they cannot close the door. If you rent a unit that is too small, you will have to upgrade to a bigger unit which means paying higher rent and possibly paying a fee to move to a different unit. It is usually better to rent a slightly larger unit from the beginning.
Another mistake is not thinking about future needs. If you think you might add more items to storage over the next few months, rent a unit with extra space now. It is easier than moving to a bigger unit later. For example, if you are storing items during a home renovation that will take six months, you might accumulate more things to store as the project continues.
Some people forget to measure their largest items before renting a unit. A ten by ten unit might sound big enough but if you have a king-size mattress, a large sectional sofa, and a big dining table, you might need more space than you think. Measure your furniture and make sure it will fit through the unit door too. Most storage unit doors are about eight feet wide but some are smaller.
Not thinking about vertical space is another common mistake. People focus on floor space and forget they can stack boxes up to eight feet high. Use sturdy shelving units in your storage space to maximize vertical storage. Put heavier boxes on the bottom and lighter boxes on top.
Tips for Maximizing Your Storage Space
Once you choose the right size unit, you can use some tricks to fit more items inside and keep everything organized.
Use uniform boxes when possible because they stack better than different sized boxes. Plastic bins with lids are even better because they protect your items from moisture and dust. Label every box clearly on multiple sides so you can see what is inside without moving boxes around.
Disassemble furniture to save space. Take apart bed frames, remove table legs, and disassemble any furniture that comes apart easily. Keep all screws and small parts in labeled plastic bags taped to the furniture piece so you do not lose them.
Stand items vertically when you can. Mattresses and box springs take up much less space when stored on their side against a wall. Sofas can sometimes be stored on end too if you secure them properly.
Create aisles if you need access to items. Do not pack your unit solid from front to back if you think you will need to get items out sometimes. Leave a narrow walkway down the middle so you can reach items at the back of the unit.
Put items you might need soon near the front of the unit. Seasonal items you only use once a year can go toward the back. This way you do not have to move everything to reach what you need.
Use shelving units to take advantage of vertical space. Metal shelving units from hardware stores work great in storage units. They let you stack boxes higher safely and keep items off the floor.
Fill hollow items with smaller items. Drawers in dressers can hold clothes or linens. The inside of your refrigerator or oven can hold boxes of kitchen items. The space inside furniture can hold smaller items to maximize space.
Storage Unit Sizes for Specific Situations
Different situations call for different storage unit sizes. Here are recommendations for common scenarios people in Davenport face.
If you are a college student at St Ambrose University or another Davenport college, a five by five or five by ten unit works well for storing dorm room items over summer break. This includes your bedding, clothes, small furniture, television, and personal items. You can share this size unit with a roommate to save money.
If you are military personnel stationed at Rock Island Arsenal and need to deploy, a ten by ten or ten by fifteen unit can store your entire apartment or the contents of your home. Many storage facilities near Davenport offer military discounts.
If you are a business owner who needs to store inventory, documents, or equipment, think about how much you have now and how much you might acquire. Many small businesses start with a ten by ten unit and upgrade as they grow. Some storage facilities offer units specifically for business use with features like electricity and better access hours.
If you are downsizing from a house to an apartment or senior living facility, you probably need a ten by fifteen or ten by twenty unit to store furniture and belongings you are not ready to sell or give away but do not have room for in your new smaller home.
If you are going through a divorce or separation and need temporary storage while you figure out housing, a ten by ten unit usually works for storing the belongings from one person in the household. This gives you time to make decisions without rushing.
If you run an online business from home and need to store products you sell, think about shelving units and how you will organize inventory. A ten by ten or larger unit with good shelving can hold a lot of products for shipping.
Questions to Ask Storage Facilities in Davenport
Before you rent a storage unit in Davenport Iowa, call or visit several facilities and ask these important questions.
Ask what sizes are currently available because popular sizes sometimes have waiting lists. Ask if you can switch to a different size later if needed and whether that costs extra money. Ask about the monthly rent and what exactly is included in that price.
Ask about security features like cameras, gates, locks, and whether staff lives on site. Ask about access hours and whether you can get to your unit twenty-four hours a day or only during business hours.
Ask if they have climate-controlled units and how much more those cost. Ask if they offer insurance for your stored items and what it covers. Ask about what forms of payment they accept and when rent is due each month.
Ask if they require a deposit and if it is refundable when you move out. Ask about discounts for students, military members, seniors, or for paying multiple months in advance. Ask if the price can increase while you are renting and how much notice they give before raising prices.
Ask if you can see the actual unit before you commit to renting it. Some facilities let you look at the specific unit you will rent while others just show you a sample unit.
Making Your Final Decision
Choosing the right storage unit size in Davenport Iowa does not have to be stressful if you plan carefully. Start by making a complete list of what you need to store. Measure your largest items. Think about whether you need climate control based on what you are storing and how long you will store it.
Visit several storage facilities in person to compare sizes, prices, and locations. Choose a facility that is close to your home or workplace so it is convenient to access your unit when needed. Read reviews online to see what other customers say about different facilities in Davenport.
Remember that it is usually better to rent a slightly larger unit than you think you need rather than a unit that is too small. The extra space gives you room to organize items and access things without playing Tetris every time you open the door. The small extra cost is worth the convenience.
Think about the length of time you will need storage. If you only need storage for a month or two, the size might not matter as much as convenience and price. If you need storage for a year or more, picking the right size becomes more important because the monthly cost adds up over time.
Most importantly, do not rush your decision. Take time to evaluate your needs, compare your options, and choose the storage unit size that best fits your situation and budget. A little extra planning now will save you money and hassle later. Storage facilities in Davenport Iowa want to help you find the right solution, so ask questions and make sure you understand everything before you sign a rental agreement.