If you've never rented a storage unit before, picking a size feels a lot like sizing a moving truck — everyone has a different opinion, the numbers all sound abstract, and the cost difference between “just right” and “way too big” adds up fast over a year.
We rent units at four locations across Hutchinson, South Hutchinson, Buhler, and Haven, and the most common conversation we have at move-in is the customer second-guessing the size they reserved. So here's our actual advice — the rules of thumb we use when somebody calls and isn't sure.
Start with what you're storing, not square footage
The number that matters is what's going IN the unit, not the square footage of the unit itself. A 10×10 is a hundred square feet on paper, but if you stack boxes to the ceiling you're really using closer to 800 cubic feet. Most rental sites quote you floor area; what you should be thinking about is volume.
Make a quick mental list. Big furniture (sofa, dresser, dining table). Mattresses. Anything that doesn't break down (lawnmower, treadmill, kayak). Then a rough box count — everything in the spare closet, the holiday decor, the seasonal kitchenware. That's your shopping list.
Storage unit sizes in Hutchinson, KS — what fits in each
5′ × 10′ (50 sq ft) — The walk-in closet
This is the smallest unit we rent, and it's the one most first-timers underestimate. Roughly the footprint of a small walk-in closet. Good for:
- A studio apartment's overflow
- Christmas decorations + a kayak + tools
- 15–20 medium boxes plus a few pieces of small furniture
- A college student's stuff over a summer break
If you have a couch or a bed, this is too small. Move up.
10′ × 10′ (100 sq ft) — The one-bedroom
The most popular size we rent, by a lot. Holds the contents of a one-bedroom apartment with room to walk between things if you pack thoughtfully. Realistic capacity:
- Queen mattress + frame, dresser, nightstand
- Loveseat or small sofa
- Dining set (small)
- 30–40 boxes stacked along one wall
- Plus a bicycle or two leaned in a corner
10′ × 15′ (150 sq ft) — The two-bedroom (climate-controlled, north Hutchinson)
The 150-square-foot size is available at our Hutchinson location only. It's the sweet spot for people moving out of a two-bedroom home or downsizing significantly. A king bed, full living room, dining set, dresser, washer/dryer, and 30+ boxes will all fit with room to navigate.
10′ × 20′ (200 sq ft) — A one-car garage
Picture a one-car garage. This is the size you want if you're storing the contents of a two-to-three-bedroom house, or if you need to keep a vehicle plus boxes. Common uses:
- Whole-house contents during a renovation or relocation
- Motorcycle + boxes + seasonal items
- Small business inventory
- Boat under 18′
10′ × 30′ (300 sq ft) — The garage-plus
Our largest size. Think of it as a long single-car garage. Big enough for a vehicle plus most of a household. People use these for:
- The contents of a 4-bedroom house
- A car or truck plus seasonal gear
- Trailer storage
- Estate downsizing — the whole “sort it out later” pile
The rules of thumb we actually use
Add 25% for boxes. Whatever you think you have, you'll find another half-dozen boxes during the move. Plan for them.
Furniture eats more space than you think. A queen mattress alone is a 5×7 footprint — that's two-thirds of a 5×10 unit gone before you've put anything else in.
You'll want a walkway. If you might need to grab one thing in the middle of the unit later (and you will), leave a center aisle. That kills 20% of your usable space immediately. Plan accordingly.
Upsizing later is harder than you'd think. If you're between two sizes and the bigger one is only $15–25 more per month, take the bigger one. Moving everything from a 10×10 into a 10×15 because you ran out of room is a Saturday you'll never get back.
The local-specific stuff
One thing we see a lot of in this area: people storing seasonal items they only use part of the year — ice fishing gear, a hunting setup, a side-by-side, lawn equipment. If that's most of what's going in, a 5×10 is plenty.
What we also see — especially in summer — is people storing motorcycles and small recreational vehicles in 10×15 or 10×20 units while they're not in season. Drive-up access at South Hutchinson, Buhler, and Haven makes that genuinely easy. Climate-controlled at our north Hutchinson location is the call if you've got a leather seat or anything that hates humidity swings.
Quick decision tree
If you've made it this far and still don't know, here's the fastest path to an answer:
- Just seasonal stuff and a few boxes? 5×10.
- One-bedroom apartment's worth? 10×10.
- Two-bedroom home? 10×15 (climate-controlled, Hutchinson) or 10×20.
- Three-plus bedroom home OR house contents + vehicle? 10×20 or 10×30.
- Whole household plus a car or trailer? 10×30.
And remember — we'll show you the unit before you sign anything. If you reserve a 10×10 and walk in and decide it's too small, we'll switch you on the spot to whatever's available.