Introduction
A 5x10 storage unit gives you 50 square feet of floor space, enough to hold the furniture and boxes from a studio or one-bedroom apartment, and it typically rents for $60 to $80 a month, or $80 to $125 with climate control. It sits right between the small 5x5 locker and the 10x10, the most rented size in the country, which makes it the go-to choice for renters with more than a closet's worth of stuff but less than a full house. Below you will find the exact dimensions, what actually fits inside, current pricing, and how it compares to the sizes on either side so you book the right one the first time.
How big is a 5x10 storage unit?
A 5x10 storage unit measures 5 feet wide by 10 feet deep, for 50 square feet of floor space. With a typical 8-foot ceiling, that works out to roughly 400 cubic feet of storage volume, and facilities with 9 to 10-foot ceilings offer closer to 450 to 500 cubic feet.
To put that in perspective, 50 square feet is about the footprint of a large walk-in closet or a small storage shed, and it is roughly double the size of a 5x5 unit while still being half the size of a 10x10.
| Dimension | Measurement |
| Width | 5 feet |
| Depth | 10 feet |
| Floor space | 50 square feet |
| Volume (8-ft ceiling) | ~400 cubic feet |
| Volume (9 to 10-ft ceiling) | ~450 to 500 cubic feet |
| Comparable space | A large walk-in closet or small shed |
What fits in a 5x10 storage unit?
A well-packed 5x10 unit holds the contents of a studio or one-bedroom apartment if you stack to the ceiling and keep larger pieces upright. You can typically fit:
-
A queen or full mattress, box spring, and bed frame
-
A couch or loveseat, stood on its end if needed
-
A dresser, a small dining set, and a TV
-
15 to 20 medium moving boxes
-
A washer or a small chest freezer, if you skip the couch
-
Seasonal gear, bins, and off-season clothing
-
A motorcycle or a few bicycles, if you go light on furniture
Most people use a 5x10 for one of two reasons: moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment, or storing a meaningful amount of furniture that has outgrown a 5x5. If you are already picturing a second bedroom's worth of items on top of this, size up. Our storage unit size guide walks through every size from a 5x5 up to a 10x30.
How much does a 5x10 storage unit cost?
A 5x10 storage unit typically costs $60 to $80 a month for a standard, non-climate-controlled unit, and $80 to $125 a month with climate control added. In expensive metro markets like Los Angeles or New York, the same unit can run $100 or more.
| Unit size | Typical monthly cost | With climate control |
| 5x5 | $35 to $55 | $50 to $85 |
| 5x10 | $60 to $80 | $80 to $125 |
| 10x10 | $115 to $130 | $145 to $205 |
| 10x15 | $150 to $165 | $185 to $260 |
A few things move the price up or down:
-
Climate control. Keeping the unit between about 55 and 80 degrees adds roughly 25% to 45% to the base rent on a mid-size unit, which is worth it for wood furniture, electronics, and anything sensitive to humidity.
-
Location and season. Rates in large coastal metros run well above these figures, while smaller inland markets run below them. Prices also climb in late spring and summer, the busiest moving months.
-
Access type. A 5x10 can be either indoor or drive-up depending on the facility, and drive-up access usually costs a little more.
For the full breakdown of fees, deposits, and seasonal pricing across every size, see our guide on how much a storage unit costs. To compare rates near you, search facilities in California or Texas, two of the largest storage markets in the country.
5x10 vs. other storage unit sizes
The 5x10 sits in the lower-middle of the standard size lineup. Here is how it compares to the sizes most people cross-shop against it.
| Size | Floor space | Best for | Truck equivalent |
| 5x5 | 25 sq ft | A closet's worth of boxes, small furniture, or a motorcycle | None needed, fits in a car or small trailer |
| 5x10 | 50 sq ft | A studio or one-bedroom apartment, stacked | 10-foot truck |
| 10x10 | 100 sq ft | One to two bedroom home | 15 to 20-foot truck |
| 10x15 | 150 sq ft | Two to three bedroom home | 15 to 20-foot truck, mostly full |
If you find yourself leaving furniture half-assembled on the floor because there is nowhere else to put it, you have outgrown a 5x10. On the other end, our 5x5 storage unit guide covers the smallest common size, and our 10x30 storage unit guide covers the largest.
Is a 5x10 big enough for a studio or one-bedroom apartment?
In most cases, yes. A 5x10 is the standard recommendation for a studio or one-bedroom apartment, as long as the apartment is not unusually full of furniture or you are not storing large appliances on top of everything else.
-
Studio apartment: fits comfortably, with room for a mattress, a small couch, a dresser, and boxes.
-
One-bedroom apartment: fits in most cases, though a sectional couch, a large dining set, or extra storage furniture can push you into a 10x10.
-
One-bedroom plus a home office: often needs the next size up once you add a desk, filing cabinets, and extra boxes.
-
Vehicle alongside furniture: a motorcycle can share the space if you go light on furniture, but a car needs at least a 10x20.
If you are on the fence between a 5x10 and a 10x10, renting the bigger size usually costs only $40 to $50 more a month and saves you from a cramped, hard-to-access unit.
Who actually needs a 5x10 storage unit?
A 5x10 makes sense for a specific set of situations rather than every household's storage needs:
-
Studio and one-bedroom renters moving between leases or storing furniture during a short-term relocation.
-
College students and young professionals consolidating a first apartment's worth of belongings.
-
Downsizers who have already pared down from a house but still have a bedroom's worth of items left.
-
Renters doing a seasonal swap, moving bulky winter or summer gear out of a smaller living space.
-
Motorcycle owners who also need to tuck away a modest amount of furniture or boxes in the same unit.
If none of those describe you, and you are picturing a full house or a vehicle on its own, a 10x15 or larger will serve you better. See our Vehicle Storage guide if parking a car or motorcycle is your main goal.
Tips for packing a 5x10 storage unit efficiently
Getting full value out of 50 square feet comes down to how you load it, not just what you bring.
-
Disassemble big items. Bed frames, tables, and shelving units take up far less floor space broken down than assembled.
-
Stand furniture on its side. A mattress, couch cushions, or a tabletop take up a fraction of the floor space standing up compared to lying flat.
-
Use uniform box sizes. Matching boxes stack tighter and higher, which matters most in a narrow footprint like this one.
-
Build a small aisle. Even in a 5x10, leaving a narrow gap near the door saves you from unstacking everything to reach one box.
-
Go vertical. Use the full ceiling height with sturdy items on the bottom and lighter boxes on top.
-
Label every box. With limited room to maneuver, clear labels save real time the next time you visit.
For a broader system that works at any size, see How to Organize a Storage Unit.
Frequently asked questions
How big is a 5x10 storage unit? It measures 5 feet by 10 feet, for 50 square feet of floor space and roughly 400 to 500 cubic feet of volume depending on ceiling height.
How much does a 5x10 storage unit cost? Expect $60 to $80 a month for a standard unit and $80 to $125 a month with climate control, depending on your city and the facility.
What can fit in a 5x10 storage unit? A queen or full bed, a couch, a dresser, a TV, and 15 to 20 boxes, or a motorcycle if you skip most of the furniture.
Is a 5x10 storage unit big enough for a one-bedroom apartment? Usually. It covers most one-bedroom apartments, though an unusually large couch or extra appliances can push you toward a 10x10.
What size moving truck do I need for a 5x10 storage unit? A 10-foot truck or a medium cargo van is typically enough to move everything a 5x10 unit holds in a single trip.
What is the difference between a 5x10 and a 10x10 storage unit? A 5x10 offers 50 square feet, enough for a studio or one-bedroom. A 10x10 doubles that to 100 square feet, enough for a one to two bedroom home.
Does a 5x10 storage unit fit a couch and a bed? Yes, in most cases. A 5x10 comfortably fits a couch and a bed along with a dresser and boxes, as long as you stand larger pieces on their side where possible.
Do 5x10 storage units come with climate control? Many do, usually for an extra $20 to $45 a month. It is worth it for wood furniture, electronics, or anything sensitive to heat and humidity.