Your estimated storage unit dimensions will appear here.
Understanding Self Storage Unit Sizes
Choosing the right self-storage unit size is crucial for saving money and ensuring your belongings are protected. Overestimating can lead to paying for unused space, while underestimating might mean you can't fit everything or need to rent a second unit. This calculator helps you estimate the space required based on the number and typical dimensions of your items, which are often packed in boxes.
How the Calculator Works:
The calculator estimates the total volume of your items and then suggests a storage unit size in a common format (e.g., feet or meters). Here's the breakdown:
Item Volume Calculation: The calculator first determines the volume of a single box by multiplying its length, width, and height.
Unit Conversion: It then converts all dimensions (box and desired unit) to a common base unit (like inches or centimeters) for accurate volume calculation.
Total Volume: The volume of a single box is multiplied by the total number of boxes to get the estimated total volume of your packed items.
Unit Size Estimation: The total volume is then used to estimate the dimensions of a storage unit that would comfortably fit these items. The calculator aims for a balanced dimension (length, width, height) that approximates the total volume. For simplicity, this calculator focuses on cubic feet or cubic meters as the primary output, representing the total space needed. A typical storage unit's dimensions are provided for reference.
Common Storage Unit Sizes and Their Uses:
5×5 ft (approx. 1.5×1.5 m): Comparable to a small closet. Good for seasonal items, a few boxes, small furniture like chairs or lamps.
5×10 ft (approx. 1.5×3 m): Similar to a walk-in closet. Holds furniture from a studio apartment, mattress sets, boxes, and small appliances.
10×10 ft (approx. 3×3 m): About the size of a large bedroom. Can fit furniture from a one-bedroom apartment, including a queen-size bed, dresser, sofa, table, and boxes.
10×15 ft (approx. 3×4.5 m): Equivalent to a small garage. Suitable for furniture from a two-bedroom apartment, including larger appliances, couch, dining set, and many boxes.
10×20 ft (approx. 3×6 m): Similar to a one-car garage. Ideal for furniture from a two or three-bedroom house, including large appliances, multiple beds, sofas, tables, and numerous boxes.
10×30 ft (approx. 3×9 m): Large enough for furniture from a three-bedroom house, potentially including items like a car, boat, or large entertainment center.
Tips for Estimating:
Measure Your Largest Items: If you have large furniture (sofas, beds, dressers), measure their dimensions to get a better sense of the space they occupy.
Stacking: Consider how items can be stacked. Storage units often have good vertical space.
Disassembly: Some furniture, like bed frames or tables, can be disassembled to save space.
Don't Forget the Walkway: You'll need some space to walk through the unit and access your items.
Consider Access: If you plan to access items frequently, leave more space for pathways.
Use this calculator as a starting point, and always consider visiting a storage facility to view unit sizes in person if possible.
function calculateStorageSize() {
var numBoxes = parseFloat(document.getElementById("boxesLength").value);
var boxLength = parseFloat(document.getElementById("boxesWidth").value); // Renamed for clarity, representing one dimension
var boxWidth = parseFloat(document.getElementById("boxesHeight").value); // Renamed for clarity, representing another dimension
var boxHeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById("boxesLength").value); // Placeholder for third dimension, can be adjusted based on user input for box dimensions
var boxLengthUnit = document.getElementById("boxLengthUnit").value;
var boxWidthUnit = document.getElementById("boxWidthUnit").value;
var boxHeightUnit = document.getElementById("boxHeightUnit").value;
var storageUnitUnit = document.getElementById("storageUnitUnit").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
if (isNaN(numBoxes) || isNaN(boxLength) || isNaN(boxWidth) || isNaN(boxHeight) || numBoxes <= 0 || boxLength <= 0 || boxWidth <= 0 || boxHeight <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all item dimensions and quantity.";
return;
}
// Conversion factors to a common base unit (e.g., inches)
var unitFactors = {
"in": 1,
"ft": 12,
"cm": 0.393701 // 1 cm = 0.393701 inches
};
// Convert box dimensions to inches for consistent volume calculation
var boxLengthInInches = boxLength * unitFactors[boxLengthUnit];
var boxWidthInInches = boxWidth * unitFactors[boxWidthUnit];
var boxHeightInInches = boxHeight * unitFactors[boxHeightUnit];
// Calculate the volume of a single box in cubic inches
var singleBoxVolumeInCubicInches = boxLengthInInches * boxWidthInInches * boxHeightInInches;
// Calculate the total volume of all boxes in cubic inches
var totalVolumeInCubicInches = singleBoxVolumeInCubicInches * numBoxes;
// Convert total volume to cubic feet (since storage units are often measured in feet)
var cubicInchesPerCubicFoot = 12 * 12 * 12;
var totalVolumeInCubicFeet = totalVolumeInCubicInches / cubicInchesPerCubicFoot;
// Convert total volume to cubic meters if desired
var cubicInchesPerCubicMeter = 39.3701 * 39.3701 * 39.3701;
var totalVolumeInCubicMeters = totalVolumeInCubicInches / cubicInchesPerCubicMeter;
var suggestedLength = 0;
var suggestedWidth = 0;
var suggestedHeight = 10; // Assume a standard ceiling height in feet
// Estimate dimensions in feet
if (storageUnitUnit === "ft") {
var estimatedCubicFeet = totalVolumeInCubicFeet;
// Aim for common storage unit dimensions. This is a simplified estimation.
// For example, a 10×10 unit is 100 sq ft.
// We'll try to find a square-ish base that fits the volume.
var baseArea = estimatedCubicFeet / suggestedHeight; // Area needed assuming 10ft height
suggestedLength = Math.sqrt(baseArea);
suggestedWidth = suggestedLength;
// Round up to nearest common unit or a reasonable size
suggestedLength = Math.ceil(suggestedLength);
suggestedWidth = Math.ceil(suggestedWidth);
// Ensure minimum dimensions and adjust if needed to fit volume
if (suggestedLength < 5) suggestedLength = 5;
if (suggestedWidth < 5) suggestedWidth = 5;
// Recalculate height needed if base dimensions are fixed (more realistic)
suggestedHeight = estimatedCubicFeet / (suggestedLength * suggestedWidth);
suggestedHeight = Math.ceil(suggestedHeight);
// Basic adjustment for common unit sizes
if (suggestedLength <= 5 && suggestedWidth <= 5) {
suggestedLength = 5; suggestedWidth = 5; suggestedHeight = Math.ceil(estimatedCubicFeet / 25);
} else if (suggestedLength <= 5 && suggestedWidth <= 10) {
suggestedLength = 5; suggestedWidth = 10; suggestedHeight = Math.ceil(estimatedCubicFeet / 50);
} else if (suggestedLength <= 10 && suggestedWidth <= 10) {
suggestedLength = 10; suggestedWidth = 10; suggestedHeight = Math.ceil(estimatedCubicFeet / 100);
} else if (suggestedLength <= 10 && suggestedWidth <= 15) {
suggestedLength = 10; suggestedWidth = 15; suggestedHeight = Math.ceil(estimatedCubicFeet / 150);
} else if (suggestedLength <= 10 && suggestedWidth <= 20) {
suggestedLength = 10; suggestedWidth = 20; suggestedHeight = Math.ceil(estimatedCubicFeet / 200);
}
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Unit Size: " + suggestedLength + " ft x " + suggestedWidth + " ft x " + suggestedHeight + " ft";
resultDiv.innerHTML += "(Total Volume Required: Approx. " + estimatedCubicFeet.toFixed(1) + " cubic feet)";
} else if (storageUnitUnit === "m") {
var estimatedCubicMeters = totalVolumeInCubicMeters;
// Assume a standard ceiling height in meters (e.g., 3 meters)
suggestedHeight = 3;
var baseArea = estimatedCubicMeters / suggestedHeight;
suggestedLength = Math.sqrt(baseArea);
suggestedWidth = suggestedLength;
suggestedLength = parseFloat(suggestedLength.toFixed(1));
suggestedWidth = parseFloat(suggestedWidth.toFixed(1));
// Basic adjustment for common unit sizes in meters
if (suggestedLength <= 1.5 && suggestedWidth <= 1.5) {
suggestedLength = 1.5; suggestedWidth = 1.5; suggestedHeight = parseFloat((estimatedCubicMeters / 2.25).toFixed(1));
} else if (suggestedLength <= 1.5 && suggestedWidth <= 3) {
suggestedLength = 1.5; suggestedWidth = 3; suggestedHeight = parseFloat((estimatedCubicMeters / 4.5).toFixed(1));
} else if (suggestedLength <= 3 && suggestedWidth <= 3) {
suggestedLength = 3; suggestedWidth = 3; suggestedHeight = parseFloat((estimatedCubicMeters / 9).toFixed(1));
} else if (suggestedLength <= 3 && suggestedWidth <= 4.5) {
suggestedLength = 3; suggestedWidth = 4.5; suggestedHeight = parseFloat((estimatedCubicMeters / 13.5).toFixed(1));
} else if (suggestedLength <= 3 && suggestedWidth <= 6) {
suggestedLength = 3; suggestedWidth = 6; suggestedHeight = parseFloat((estimatedCubicMeters / 18).toFixed(1));
}
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Unit Size: " + suggestedLength + " m x " + suggestedWidth + " m x " + suggestedHeight + " m";
resultDiv.innerHTML += "(Total Volume Required: Approx. " + estimatedCubicMeters.toFixed(1) + " cubic meters)";
}
}