KEY TAKEAWAYS
▸ A 5×10 storage unit boasts 50 square feet of space – about the size of a walk-in closet.
▸ A basic 5×10 unit costs about $58.13 per month, and is the most popular storage unit size.
▸ You can maximize your 5×10 storage unit by utilizing vertical space with organization techniques like stacking and shelving, disassembling large furniture, using uniform and interlocking stackable containers, and leaving a center aisle for easy access to items stored in the back.
▸ A 5×10 unit can accommodate a wide range of items, including a mattress set, small furniture pieces, 55″ TVs, sporting equipment, or 30-40 medium storage boxes.
▸ A 5×10 storage unit is a versatile option for both short-term and long-term storage needs.
As the headlines and hashtags remind us multiple times a day, we’re living through a time of economic uncertainty. The cringy impact of that instability and the shrinking availability of homes on the market are just a few of the reasons to downsize our living space.
And don’t take our word for it – new data shows that the average house size is now 1,800 square feet. They say it costs about $12,438 extra to score a home with an additional 50 square feet for storage.
That’s where a self-storage unit comes in. One of the easiest ways to downsize your home and still keep your sanity is to book a storage unit. But here’s where it gets tricky.
- When renting a storage unit, you typically pay by the square foot. So, the smaller the unit, the lower the cost of your monthly rent.
- That said, the price per square foot gets lower and lower as the unit sizes scale up. So, for example, it’s cheaper to rent a 5×10 than to rent two 5x5s, even if the square footage you have access to is exactly the same!
This makes choosing the right storage unit size more than just a bit important, especially considering the economic forces pushing our decisions to find a storage unit in the first place. Too big, and you’re paying for storage space you don’t use.
But too small and you’ll lack the space to clean and maintain your belongings, and access the stuff shoved way in the back of your unit. And if you run out of that extra space and need to book a second unit, you’re paying more per square foot than you need to.
5×10 is the most popular storage unit size for good reason. But if you’ve already scoped out our premier storage size guide, you already know just how many other unit size options to choose from.
But don’t fret, SpareFoot is here to lend our stellar storage space expertise. We’ve provided a comprehensive list of exactly what can fit in a 5×10 storage unit.
We’ll answer the questions of what a 5×10 storage unit looks like and how much a 5×10 storage unit costs, so you can decide once and for all if the 5×10 is the ideal self-storage space for your needs.
We’ll also reveal how you can use SpareFoot’s signature storage unit search tool to find the exact size you’re looking for with all the features you need at a storage facility near you.
But first, let’s take a closer look at the gritty details and layout of a 5×10 storage unit.
How Big is a 5×10 Storage Unit? Understanding 5×10 Storage Unit Dimensions
A 5×10 storage unit contains 50 square feet of floor space – big enough to fit all the contents of a small bedroom or a small studio apartment. The amount of cubic feet in a 5×10 varies by height. Most storage units are between 8 feet and 10 feet tall. 5x10x8=400 cubic feet, and 5x10x10=500 cubic feet.
What Does a 5×10 Storage Unit Look Like?
A 5×10 is 5 feet wide and 10 feet long, meaning it’s twice as long as it is wide. The shape of a 5×10 is a long rectangle, and it’s about the size of a walk-in closet. That said, the average ceiling height of 8-10 feet gives a 5×10 storage unit more vertical space to take advantage of than most walk-in closets provide.
How Much is a 5×10 Storage Unit?
Our research shows that the average storage cost for a basic 5×10 unit is $58.13. That’s about $1.16 per square foot of floor space. We calculated that number by analyzing the data for storage units rented through SpareFoot, and we rent lots of units all over the country. The actual price for a 5×10 varies depending on where in the U.S. you live.
What you can be sure of, however, is this: the higher the demand for 5×10 storage units in your area, the more you can expect to pay for one.
Space Planning Tips and Tricks for a 5×10 Storage Unit Size
Having a plan in place before you rent the unit helps you be sure you’re renting the right size. Before we get into what you can store in your unit, let’s cover a few quick tips and tricks you can employ ahead of time to maximize your cubic space:
- Take advantage of the vertical space: 5×10 storage units often have a high ceiling height between 8 and 10 feet. We suggest (safely) stacking boxes up to the ceiling or installing shelving units so you can use your unit’s cubic feet to your advantage. Hang a step stool off the side of the metal shelving unit using an S hook so it’s always around when you need to reach up high, and don’t be afraid to hang things on hooks from the ceilings and walls.
- Disassemble large furniture pieces. Breaking down your furniture before you store it lets you get creative with the space-saving. You can strap furniture pieces to the wall or slip them behind a shelving unit. Be sure to keep any hardware and assembly instructions in a plastic baggy and tape it to the furniture so you don’t lose it. We suggest taping it to an interior part that doesn’t show, and to avoid yanking any visible paint off when you remove the tape.
- Use uniform stackable storage containers. Store your belongings in the same type of containers – we suggest sustainable plastic containers with interlocking lids. This lets you take advantage of vertical space even without shelves by stacking boxes higher without worrying about cardboard crushing under the weight. Up your efficiency score even more by using clear plastic boxes so you can also see what’s inside them without having to open them up.
The vertical storage strategies and the longer-than-wide shape of a 5×10 unit both warrant leaving some empty space in the unit. We suggest leaving an empty strip down the center of your unit to serve as an aisle, so you don’t have to pull a bunch of stuff into the parking lot or hallway to get to the back of the unit.
This empty aisle can also double as a temporary stack zone. For example, if you need to take a few boxes off a stack in order to get to the container you need, you can stack them in front of you in the aisle temporarily, access your target container, and then put them all back where they were when you were done.
Lastly, don’t forget to account for the door during your planning stage. Some units have garage-style doors that roll up, while others have outward or inward swinging doors. If your 5×10 storage unit has a narrow entryway, we suggest you bring your center aisle all the way to the doorway and avoid storing stuff directly in front of it.
Furniture That Fits in a 5×10 Storage Unit
When it comes to storing furniture, it’s all about maintaining airflow. Store your furniture elevated off the ground and leave space around it for air circulation, especially if it’s wooden. Storing wooden furniture also requires a climate-controlled storage unit. Climate control is more than just A/C and heat – it also includes indoor storage and humidity monitoring, so your belongings are kept safe from extreme climate 24/7, 365.
One last furniture storage tip: You can save a little space by breaking your furniture down beforehand, as long as you don’t store it flat on the floor.
Here’s a list of 15 pieces of furniture you can store in a 5×10 storage unit:
- A twin mattress set, a full-size mattress set, or a queen mattress set, plus a box spring
- Small dresser or chest of drawers
- Office furniture, like an office chair, a small desk, and a small filing cabinet
- Coffee table
- Nightstand or small vanity table
- Small bookshelf
- Entertainment center
- TV stand (for TVs up to 55″)
- Small armchair or accent chair
- Dining table seating up to four, 2-3 dining chairs/2-3 bar stools
- Ottoman
- Small wardrobe/armoire
- Bench or small loveseat
- Hutch or small china cabinet
- Folding table and 3-4 folding chairs
Electronics and Large Appliances That Fit in a 5×10 Storage Unit
When it comes to storing appliances and electronics in a 5×10, we typically suggest backing up any data or files stored on them, turning them off, and removing the batteries. Clean your electronics with manufacturer-recommended methods and supplies, then wrap them in a breathable microfiber cloth or canvas that won’t scratch the screen.
Don’t store electronics by wrapping them in plastic, or you might trap moisture and humidity inside them and damage their electro-guts. Electronics are another great candidate for climate-controlled storage units.
If you’re storing expensive or hard-to-replace electronics, we also suggest renting your 5×10 at a self-storage facility with enhanced security features, like video surveillance cameras and electronic gates that require a coded entry.
Here are 15 common appliances and electronic devices you can store in a 5×10 storage unit:
- 55″ TV or smaller
- Desktop computer, monitor, and a printer/scanner combo
- Microwave oven
- Small refrigerator (mini or apartment-size)
- Washing machine OR dryer (not both)
- Vacuum cleaner
- Window air conditioning unit or portable swamp cooler
- Space heater
- Sound system/stereo
- Small kitchen appliances like blenders, toasters, and air fryers
- Small freezer chest
- Dehumidifier
- Floor fan
- Video game console, controllers, games, and other accessories
- Wine storage cooler
Outdoor, Recreational, and Sporting Equipment That Fits In A 5×10 Storage Unit
Whether it’s seasonal items or you’re storing your sporting equipment and outdoor gear in a 5×10 long-term, you’ll need to make sure everything is thoroughly cleaned and totally dry. Even just the tiniest bit of moisture can cause mold and mildew growth that’ll ruin your recreational equipment for good.
We suggest using equipment-specific cleaners rather than household products, as outdoor gear like tents and sleeping bags is made of specialized materials and finished with weatherproof coatings.
Now we’re not pointing fingers when we say this, but if your sports equipment and outdoor gear are still sweaty when you put them in your 5×10, you may come back next season to bacterial growth that’s gone too far to reverse!
If your 5×10 storage unit isn’t climate-controlled, we suggest running a dehumidifier and using moisture control solutions like baking soda.
Here are 10 outdoor gear or sporting equipment items:
- 1-2 bicycles, skateboards, and roller skates/inline skates
- Golf club set and golf bag
- Skis and ski equipment, snowboards, and snowboard gear
- Tennis rackets and equipment, or a badminton set
- Baseball/softball equipment, basketball and ball pump, soccer, football, or hockey equipment, and a hockey bag full of pads
- Camping gear (tent, sleeping bags, camp stove), fishing equipment, and tackle box
- Exercise equipment (small weights, yoga mats, and a compact treadmill)
- Surfboard, boogie board, kayak, or canoe
- Pool/billiard cues and rack, dartboard, and darts
- Rock climbing gear
Household Items and Boxes That Fit in a 5×10 Storage Unit
When it comes to storing household items in a 5×10 storage unit, the storage container matters. It’d be a shame to spend all this effort on choosing the right size storage unit and then have all your beautifully organized holiday decorations turn to mush because you stored them in a cardboard box that got soaked in humidity, for example.
We often get asked whether plastic containers or cardboard boxes are better for storing or for moving. Plastic storage bins are more expensive but will provide better long-term protection for your household goods. Cardboard boxes are more affordable, but provide less protection from pests and moisture.
With the right storage containers in mind, let’s take a look at 10 household items you can store in a 5×10 storage unit:
- 30-40 medium storage bins, moving boxes, or storage containers
- Multiple storage boxes full of holiday decorations, especially if you’re rotating your holiday decorations out of season by season
- Costumes and clothing, especially if you rotate special occasion wardrobes and seasonal items
- Bedding, blankets, pillows, cushions, tablecloths, and linens
- Kitchen items, dishware, coolers, and picnic supplies
- Books and documents
- Tools, gardening supplies, hardware, craft supplies, and materials
- Photo albums and artwork
- Children’s toys and games
- Business supplies and small office equipment
Is a 5×10 Storage Unit Right For You? SpareFoot is Here to Help
Maybe you’re a student looking for dorm room item storage between semesters.
Or maybe you’re looking for some extra storage in between moves.
Either way, a 5×10 is one of the more versatile storage unit sizes on the list of temporary storage solutions. Pack your stuff neatly into storage containers or moving boxes ahead of time, and you can stack up to 40 of them neatly in your 5×10.
Then, when move-in day finally arrives, you or your professional movers can just move them out of storage and into your new home or dorm room.
A 5×10 is also a great permanent storage space, as an extra utility closet, for your seasonal and specialty wardrobes, or for furniture and electronic devices that aren’t currently in your at-home rotation.
By now, you should have a pretty clear idea of exactly what can fit in a 5×10 storage unit. You also know about how much you can expect to pay per square foot, and how to take advantage of your unit’s vertical space.
But remember, our organization experts here at SpareFoot always stress that proper organization is key. If you shove too much stuff into your 5×10 storage space, you risk bending, smashing, and ripping your delicates and restricting the airflow, which can cause mold growth.
Also, climate control and enhanced security features aren’t the only available storage unit features you have to choose from. If your 5×10 is on the second floor and you plan on moving furniture in and out, you may need elevator access or even drive-up access, where you can pull your car right up to your unit.
So how do you find a 5×10 storage unit near you that also has the exact amenities you need?
That’s where SpareFoot comes in.
Simply enter your zip code, city, or address into our handy SpareFoot storage search tool, and you’ll find all the best storage options in your area.
With more than 20,000 storage facilities in all 50 states, SpareFoot offers the nation’s largest selection of storage unit size options in one place. Our search tool lets you view our results based on search parameters you set beforehand.
You can also use our special storage deals search tool to find storage units in your area that’ll give you the first month free!
Michael Ta’Nous
Michael Ta’Nous is a full-time writer who works and lives with his wife in Taos, New Mexico. “Mikey” spent his early twenties living either out of a van as a touring musician or out of a backpack on motorcycle trips writing from cafes–these rigorous adventure years polished him into a master packer. In addition to managing storage units full of catering supplies and outdoor gear professionally, Michael has used storage units as a band rehearsal space and a motorcycle garage.
