Choosing The Right Storage Unit Size for Renovation Projects

Estimating the space you need for storage during a renovation shouldn’t be difficult. You already have enough on your plate to plan and organise the trades. You also don’t want to spend too much on space you don’t need or waste time with a storage unit that’s too small. 

At 1800 We Store It, we understand the challenge of finding just the right amount of storage during a renovation. Our storage unit size guide should help. Learn how to store items safely and securely while saving money on storage during your home’s transformation. 

Let The Type of Renovation Help You Decide

Are you renovating the bathroom, changing up your kitchen, or is your entire home getting a facelift? Different types of renovations will modify your storage needs. You won’t need storage for a bathroom renovation unless you have a unique cabinet, basin, or bathtub worth saving.  However, renovating four rooms and a kitchen will require a self storage unit to ensure all your items are out of the way and protected. 

Take an inventory of all the items you plan to put in storage. Stash your smaller items in boxes to make calculating the required volume easier. 

Take measurements of the larger items, such as couches, refrigerators, tables, and bookshelves, as you will need these figures to calculate the cubic capacity of the unit needed to store them all. Keep notes that you can refer back to later. 

For example, your inventory might look similar to this: 6 small to medium-sized boxes, three large boxes, a queen-sized bed, two bookshelves, and a large dresser. 

Keep in mind that not all items are suitable for general storage. Business documents, artwork, and old photographs require lower humidity and temperatures. If you need to get these out of the way during a renovation, consider climate-controlled storage options or keep them with a friend or relative. 

Another tip to help you calculate your storage needs is to consider your bulkiest, longest, or widest items. Anything over 10 feet (3 metres) will rule out small storage units, and items over 15 feet (5 metres) require a larger unit. 

What Can You Store at Home?

Finding storage space in your home can help you reduce costs. For example, could you park your vehicle on the driveway and use your car garage as a storage option? 

It’s a temporary solution that could mean the difference between requiring a large container or getting away with a smaller and much cheaper storage unit. Of course, you will want to know that your vehicle is safe, so it might not be the best cost-cutting solution for everyone. 

How Much Volume Do You Need?

After filling your packing boxes and measuring all the larger items, you can now calculate how much storage you will need.

One method is to stack all the items in a neat pile and then measure the stack. A stack measuring around 2 metres high by 2 metres wide by 2.5 metres high will require a container with ten cubic metres of storage capacity.

This size is perfect for most kitchen renovations. Remember that our smallest 6-foot containers are made from timber and are not weatherproof. Once we fill the container, 1800 We Store It will transfer it to our secure warehouse, where you can retrieve it as soon as your renovation is complete. 

If you need to pack in more items, we also have portable steel storage containers ranging from 8 ft up to 20 ft. Our steel container options are weather and rodent-proof, meaning you can store them on your property for as long as required. 

Stacking items together may not be possible if your available space is limited, so you may need to combine the individual measurements to estimate the required cubic volume.

We like to make it easy for our customers to get all the storage they need without paying too much or getting more than they need. Use our quick guide to determine the quickly  

6-foot containers:  Measures 1.8 m wide x 2.4 m long x 2.6m high for 10 cubic metres of storage, perfect for small kitchen renovations. Holds the contents of around two bedrooms worth of stuff. 

8-foot steel shipping containers: Measures 2.1 m wide x 2.3 long x 2.4 m high for 11.5 cubic metres of storage. It holds around 2.5 bedrooms’ worth of items, so it’s good for apartment renovations or smaller one bedroom or two bedroom houses.

10-foot steel shipping containers: Measures 2.4m wide x 3m long and 2.9 m high for 16 – 19 cubic metres of storage. It is ideal for storing two or three bedrooms worth of belongings. 

20-foot steel shipping containers: Our 20-foot container is the one you want for larger home renovations. At 2.4m wide x 6m long, and 2.9m high, you will have plenty of room to store the contents of a four bedroom house. It’s a big storage unit but still compact enough to fit most driveways or small business parking lots. 

Renovate with Peace of Mind

Every storage unit from 1800 We Store It can be dropped off and picked up at a time that suits you, and our 8ft containers and over can be stored on your property for even more convenience. 

Running back and forth to a storage unit across town is unnecessary, saving you more time and money and less stress.

It’s not a problem if you don’t have room on your property for a container. We have storage space available at our storage depots for much cheaper than traditional storage. Our payment terms are weekly. You aren’t locked into long-term contracts and pay only for the storage you need for as long as needed. 

Not sure how much storage space you need? Contact one of our friendly team for expert advice and a quick quote, and let us help you keep your valuable belongings safe while you improve your home or business.