What actually fits in each storage unit size
Square metres mean nothing until you picture real furniture. Here is what fits in a 7.5, 14, 21 and 48 square metre unit, in beds, couches and boxes.
Published
A 7.5 square metre unit holds roughly a one-bedroom flat: a bed, a couch, a fridge and about twenty boxes. A 14 square metre unit takes a two-bedroom flat. A 21 square metre unit takes a three-bedroom house. A 48 square metre unit takes a four or five-bedroom house, or a small business's stock and equipment.
Those are the numbers most people actually need. The rest of this guide explains how to sanity-check them against what you own, because the most expensive storage mistake is renting twice: once too small, then again at the right size a fortnight later.
Start with the biggest thing you own
Unit size is usually decided by one or two awkward items rather than the total volume. A three-seater couch, a fridge freezer and a king bed base are the three that catch people out. If those three fit with a walkway, everything else stacks around them.
- Three-seater couch: about 2.2m long, and it will not stand on its end in a low unit
- Fridge freezer: 1.8m tall, and it needs to travel upright
- King bed base: 2m x 1.8m, though most split into two halves
- Washing machine and dryer: 60cm square each, stackable
The four sizes, in real terms
| Size | Roughly holds | Typical customer |
|---|---|---|
| 7.5 m² | One-bedroom flat, or the contents of a single garage | Students, people between flats, a business archiving documents |
| 14 m² | Two-bedroom flat with room to walk in | Couples moving, or a trade storing tools and stock |
| 21 m² | Three-bedroom house including whiteware and outdoor gear | Families mid-move or renovating |
| 48 m² | Four to five-bedroom house, or a small warehouse of stock | Large moves, and businesses outgrowing a spare room |
Leave yourself a walkway
If you will visit the unit more than once, do not pack it wall to wall. Leaving a corridor down one side costs you roughly a quarter of the floor space and saves you unloading the entire unit to reach one box. People storing seasonal gear or business stock should always size up for this reason.
Common questions
- What size unit do I need for a three-bedroom house?
- A 21 square metre unit. That takes a standard three-bedroom household including beds, a couch, a dining set, whiteware and outdoor furniture, with a walkway left down the middle. If you have a double garage's worth of gear as well, go up to 48 square metres.
- Should I round up or round down on unit size?
- Round up. Moving to a bigger unit later costs a second van hire and a Saturday, while the difference between two sizes is usually $20 a week. Taking the larger unit for three months is almost always cheaper than getting it wrong.
- Can I stack boxes to the ceiling?
- Physically yes, sensibly no. Stack heavy boxes low and light boxes high, keep a walkway to the back, and leave the things you will want first near the door. A unit packed solid to the roof means unloading half of it to reach anything.
- How much does each unit size cost at Rolleston?
- $35 a week for 7.5 square metres, $55 for 14, $75 for 21 and $140 for 48. Monthly rates are $147, $238, $325 and $607. Sizes and prices vary at our other Christchurch sites, so check the location page for the one you want.
- Do you have anything smaller than 7.5 square metres?
- At Rolleston, no. Our Stevens Street site in Waltham has units from 5.08 square metres if you need something smaller. Rolleston starts at 7.5 square metres, which holds about a one-bedroom flat.
- Can I change unit size after I move in?
- Yes, subject to what is available. The rental is month to month, so moving up or down is a matter of asking. It is still easier to get it right first time, which is why we suggest calling before you book if you are unsure.
What you cannot store
Our units have no power, so anything needing to stay plugged in or refrigerated is out. We also cannot take anything flammable, perishable, or alive. Everything else, from documents to a dismantled bed frame, is fair game.
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