Understanding Storage Unit Sizes and Measurements

Storage unit sizes describe floor area. When you see a room advertised as 35 square feet, that figure tells you how much floor space it has, rather than the length of one wall.

Understanding the measurement makes it easier to compare a unit with a space you already know, such as part of a room at home.

How floor area is calculated

Multiply the width by the depth. A floor measuring 5 feet wide and 7 feet deep has an area of 35 square feet. In metric measurements, a floor 4 metres wide and 3 metres deep has an area of 12 square metres.

Use the same measurement system for both sides of the calculation. Our size guide provides metric comparisons alongside the square-foot sizes.

Look beyond the headline size

Floor area is only one part of planning your storage. Consider the doorway, the shape of the room, available height and the dimensions of your largest possessions.

A long table may need a particular arrangement even when the total floor area sounds generous. Equally, sturdy boxes may use the height of the room if they can be stacked appropriately.

Try marking a proposed floor area at home with a tape measure. It can help you picture the footprint before you visit, although it will not reproduce the unit's full layout.

Use our online size guide to compare examples, and ask the local team to confirm the dimensions of the unit you are considering.