Your Storage Unit Size Guide for 2025

Choosing the right portable container or storage unit size is all about finding the sweet spot: Making sure there’s room for your stuff — and paying a reasonable price. How do you manage that? How big is a storage container? And what’s an acceptable rate? Read on for our storage unit size guide with tips, tools, and a handy chart to help you figure it all out.

You might be surprised by how much you can pack into the smallest PODS container size — if you need more space, though, you’ve got options!

PODS Container Sizes: Small, Medium, Large

If you’re perusing our storage unit size guide and wavering between a portable moving and storage container or a self-storage unit, you’d probably like to know more details about the three PODS container sizes. Here’s a summary of what you can expect to fit in each size PODS container, plus how they compare to self-storage units and rental trucks. (Keep in mind that you may be able to fit more or less in your container depending on the size of your items and your packing and loading technique.)

Small: 8-Foot PODS Container

The 8-foot container is the smallest PODS container size available. It will store items for a space of up to 500 square feet. Have a student moving home from the dorms for the summer? This is your container. Need to tuck away some knick-knacks and extras post-downsize but pre-donation? Perfect. 

Comparable To: 

• 5' x 10' self-storage unit
• 10' rental truck

8-foot container basics:

• Container dimensions: 8' x 7' x 8'
• Practical for college students, apartment residents, or people looking to downsize
• Available for storage as well as local and long-distance moves

What Fits in an 8-Foot PODS Container?

• King-size bed
• Dresser
• Bookshelf
• Dining table with 4 chairs
• Small sofa
• A few lamps
• Pictures and mirrors
• TV
• Bicycle
• Multiple moving boxes

Medium: 12-Foot PODS Container

This mid-size container will handle local moves and storage for a space of up to 800 square feet. This is perfect if you’re in a small apartment — just a few rooms, max — and you’re moving across town. The 12-footer is also good for storage if you’ve got extra bicycles or yard gear you need to stash somewhere for a while.

Comparable To: 

• 10' x 10' self-storage unit
• 15' rental truck

12-foot Container Basics:

• Container dimensions: 12' x 8' x 8' 
• Fits contents from 2 to 3 rooms
• Available only for local moves or storage
• Handy for keeping items close by in on-site storage during remodeling projects

What Fits in a 12-Foot PODS Container?

Below is an example of typical household items that fit in a 12-foot PODS container:

• King-size bed
• Twin bed
• 2 dressers and/or bookshelves
• Dining table with 4 chairs
• Small sofa
• Arm chair
• Coffee table
• Entertainment center
• TV
• Small desk and chair
• A few lamps
• Pictures and mirrors
• Bicycle
• Multiple moving boxes

Large: 16-Foot PODS Container

The 16-foot container is PODS’ largest and most popular size for local and long-distance moves and for storage, holding the contents for a space of up to 1,200 square feet. Basically, this container will hold belongings from a small home or a one- to two-bedroom apartment. 

Comparable To: 

• 10' x 15' self-storage unit
• 15'–18' rental truck

16-foot Container Basics:

• Container dimensions: 16' x 8' x 8'
• Fits contents from a 1- to 2-bedroom apartment or small home (3 to 4 rooms total)
• A practical solution for moves requiring temporary storage
• Available for storage and for local and long-distance moves

What Fits in a 16-Foot PODS Container?

Below is an example of typical household items that fit in a 16-foot PODS container:

• King-size bed
• 2 twin beds
• 2 dressers
• 2 bookshelves
• Dining table with 6 chairs
• Sofa
• Coffee table
• 2 end tables
• Entertainment center
• TV
• Desk with chair
• Several lamps
• Several pictures and mirrors
• Washer and dryer
• 2 bicycles
• Up to 60 moving boxes in various sizes

Use our storage unit size guide to help you choose the right size PODS container — which you can then have delivered right to your driveway for easy loading.

Storage Unit Size Guide: The Right Fit For Your Home 

Check out the guide below to estimate the size of the portable container, storage unit, or rental truck you need based on your home’s square footage. (We've included rental trucks because you'll need a way to haul your stuff if you're not using a portable container.) 

When considering square footage, don’t forget to include all areas of your house that have things you’ll be loading into the unit, such as your garage, attic, basement, and patio. Also keep in mind that the storage unit size guide numbers are estimates; what fits in a 16-foot PODS container, for example, will vary depending on the size of your furniture, how densely your home is furnished, how many fragile items you may have, and your packing and loading technique. This likely sparks the next question: What size PODS container do I need? To find the answer, here’s our storage unit size guide* based on home size:

Small Studio Apartment (Less than 400 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a small studio apartment, you’ll need one of these three options: 

• PODS Container: 8'**
• Self-Storage Unit: 5' x 10'
• Rental Truck or Van: Cargo Van or 10' Truck

Studio/1 BR Apartment (600 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a studio or one-bedroom apartment, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: 8' or 12'
• Self-Storage Unit: 5' x 10' or 10' x 10'
• Rental Truck or Van: 10', 15', or 16'

1–2 BR Home (800 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a one- or two-bedroom home, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: 12' or 16'
• Self-Storage Unit: 10' x 15'
• Rental Truck or Van: 15' or 16'

2 BR Home (1,000 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a two-bedroom home, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: Single 16' or 16' + 8'
• Self-Storage Unit: 10' x 15' or 10' x 20'
• Rental Truck or Van: 15' or 16'

2-3 BR Apartment/Home (1,200 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a two- or three-bedroom home, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: Single 16' or 16' + 8'
• Self-Storage Unit: 10' x 15' or 10' x 20'
• Rental Truck or Van: 15', 16', or 18'

3 BR Apartment/Home (1,600 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a larger three-bedroom home, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: 16' + 8' or two 16'
• Self-Storage Unit: 10' x 20' or 10' x 25'
• Rental Truck or Van: 20', 22', or 26'

4 BR Home (2,000 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a four-bedroom home, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: Two 16'
• Self-Storage Unit: 10' x 30'
• Rental Truck or Van: 26' (May take multiple trips)

4–5 BR Home (2,500 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a four- or five-bedroom home, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: Two 16' + 8' or three 16'
• Self-Storage Unit: 10' x 30' + 5' x 10'
• Rental Truck or Van: 26' (will require multiple trips)

5-6 BR Home (3,000 SF):

If you’re storing the contents of a five- or six-bedroom home, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: Three 16'
• Self-Storage Unit: 10' x 30' + 10' x 15'
• Rental Truck or Van: 26' (will require multiple trips)

Homes Larger Than 3,000 SF:

If you’re storing the contents of a home greater than 3,000 square feet, you’ll need one of these three options:

• PODS Container: One 16' per 1,000 SF
• Self-Storage Unit: Equivalent of 10' x 15' per 1,000 SF
• Rental Truck or Van: 26' (will require multiple trips)

*Suggested sizes are for guidance only. Larger items and how efficiently containers/units/trucks are loaded can significantly impact the size and quantity of containers, storage units, and rental trucks you’ll need. **PODS is constantly upgrading its container fleet, and container sizes may vary slightly from one model to another.

More Factors To Consider When Choosing Storage Unit Sizes

While the storage unit size guide above surely helped, it might still be hard to visualize how much space you’ll need. However, most people are pleasantly surprised by the amount of stuff they can pack into a self-storage unit or portable storage container. That’s because most storage units can be loaded from the bottom up, which means you can cover the entire floor and stack your things up to the full 8-foot height. You can also arrange the contents differently than you would a typical room or closet — piling boxes on top of your couch, for instance, and tucking smaller pieces underneath the dining table. 

However, it’s not just how much you’re storing, but also what you’re storing and how often you plan to access your storage unit. Let’s take a quick look at these factors to help you work out just how much storage you need.

What Do You Plan To Store?

Start by taking inventory to apply to our storage unit size guide. Use a measuring tape to note the dimensions of your larger items, and estimate the number of boxes you have. Don’t forget items that are irregularly shaped and can’t be stacked, like floor lamps.

How Much Access Will You Need?

In addition to the size and volume of stuff you want to store, factor in how you’ll be using the storage space and how often you’ll need to get into it. For example, if the storage is part of a move and you won’t need any of your belongings when you’re between homes, then you can load your storage unit to the max. 

But if you’ll need to periodically get things out of storage, you may want to create a bit of an aisle through the middle of your space. That way, you won’t have to unload half your stuff just to find one item you need. On the other hand, if you only need access to a few things, plan your loading strategically. Set aside the items you expect to need and load them last, so you’ll have easy access. 

A PODS storage container needs an outdoor space that’s 12 feet wide, 15 feet high, and 40 feet long.

How Much Driveway or Outdoor Space Do You Have?

How Do I Know What Size Storage Unit I Need?

No matter how many times you measure your belongings and count your boxes, it’s natural to feel a bit stressed about the size of the space you plan to rent. So, what if you’re not sure what size storage unit you need? 

Choose the Next Larger Option

To ease your mind, you might consider bumping up to the next-largest storage unit size. You want to avoid paying for more space than you need, but the dollar difference between storage unit sizes is often so small that it might be worth the extra peace of mind. 

Use Portable Storage Containers and Stagger Deliveries

Another strategy is to use multiple portable containers and stagger delivery dates — especially if you think there’s a good chance you’ll need more than the largest size available. Depending on the container company, you can arrange delivery so you only pay for what you use. For example, with PODS, you can reserve multiple containers but stagger the deliveries, so you load one container before you have the next unit delivered. If you end up not needing the extra containers, PODS allows you to cancel at no cost (they’re super flexible like that!).

Use a Moving and Storage Calculator

If you like working with online tools, narrow your choices down even further by using this PODS moving and storage calculator — a terrific resource to supplement the storage unit size guide. It’ll give you a detailed estimate for the right size PODS container, or combination of containers, you should choose, based on your specific belongings. Like a virtual loading machine, the calculator allows you to select furniture pieces room by room, the number of boxes by size, and other common household and recreational items that you plan to store or move. As you add items, the tool shows the container filling up by percentage, so you get a sense of whether you might have space to spare or will need multiple containers. 

How To Pack and Load To Maximize Storage Space

As you use this storage unit size guide, remember that how efficiently you pack and load your things will determine which storage unit sizes will work for you. But no worries — we’ve got plenty of advice on that, too. 

• Packing Tips & Loading Guides
• How To Load a Portable Container in 10 Easy Steps

Storage Unit Size Guide — FAQs

Q: How much will a 10' x 20' storage unit hold?
A: You can fit everything from a three- to four-bedroom house in a 200-square-foot storage unit. In short, that’s a lot of space. And the equivalent in PODS? Two 16-foot containers or a 16-foot plus an 8-foot container. 

Q: What will a 10' x 15' storage unit hold?
A: With 150 square feet of space, you can generally accommodate belongings from a two- or three-bedroom home. In addition to your furniture and appliances, you’ll also be able to fit about 30 to 40 medium-sized boxes of books, dishes, and any other items that need to be sealed up. If you choose PODS for your move, the equivalent of a 10x15-foot storage unit is a 16-foot PODS container. 

Q: Is a 10' x 10' storage unit enough?
A: If you’re moving out of a studio apartment or a small one-bedroom home, a 10' x 10' storage space should be sufficient. Going the PODS route, the equivalent would be a 12-foot container. 

Q: What is the ideal size for a storage room?
A: That depends on what you mean by “ideal” — and why you need the space. Say you’re stashing musical instruments, for instance, because you don’t have room in your home, but you’ll be accessing them regularly. You’ll need to have enough breathing space in the unit to move around comfortably as you go in and out to get your instruments and put them back. So, in that case, tack on a few extra square feet to accommodate. But if you’re packing away furniture and belongings in preparation for a move, use the storage unit size guide above to help you determine the amount of space you need.

Q: What is the size of a standard storage container?
A: Storage containers come in different dimensions, with options to fit just about every need. But the most common size measures about 8 feet wide and 8-and-a-half feet tall — with varying lengths: 10, 20, and 40 feet long. 

With your storage container parked literally right outside your house, PODS provides flexibility and convenience that self-storage options simply can’t match.