What fits in a 50 sq ft storage unit?

A 50 sq ft unit has about half the floor space of a single garage, and as a rough guide it holds the contents of a studio or a small one-bed flat with modest furniture. Packed well, that can mean a sofa, a double bed and mattress, a wardrobe, a chest of drawers, a few small appliances and 20 to 30 boxes.

How big is 50 square feet?

Fifty square feet is the floor area, roughly 4.6 square metres. Think of half a single garage, or a large garden shed. The space above the floor matters just as much, because you can stack upwards, so a unit this size often takes more than people expect.

What a 50 sq ft unit suits

  • A studio or small one-bed flat with a modest amount of furniture.
  • A gap between homes, when the big pieces and the boxes need somewhere safe for a few weeks or months.
  • Decluttering before a sale, so rooms look bigger for viewings.

A fuller one-bed flat, with a dining table, a large sofa or white goods, often needs 75 sq ft. If you’re between sizes, our price lists include sizes either side, such as 35 and 75 sq ft, so you can step up or down rather than paying for space you won’t use.

Getting the most into it

The difference between “it all fits” and “it doesn’t” is usually the packing:

  • Take beds and tables apart, and tape the screws to the frame.
  • Stand the mattress on its edge.
  • Use sturdy boxes of a similar size, heavy ones at the bottom, so they stack straight.
  • Put the things you’ll want first near the door.

Our guide to packing boxes so they stack safely has more on this, and our room-by-room size guide and one-bedroom flat guide compare 50 sq ft with the sizes either side.

Not sure it’s the right size?

Every home is different, so treat these figures as a rough guide rather than a promise. Our team are experts at working out the space you need: tell us what you’re storing and we’ll suggest a unit, so you don’t pay for more space than you need. Call us on 0800 2545585, or get a price online to see the sizes available at your nearest site.


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