5×15 storage unit size guide
A 5x15 storage unit offers 75 square feet of floor space and about 600 cubic feet of volume. It suits a one-bedroom apartment, including a washer and dryer, or two furnished rooms — but its narrow 5 ft width makes it awkward for wide furniture.
- 75 sq ft
- 600 cu ft
- Fits 1 bedroom apartment
- $75–$140 / month
Use this size in your plan
How big is a 5×15 storage unit?
| Dimensions | 5 ft × 15 ft |
|---|---|
| Floor space | 75 square feet (sq ft) |
| Assumed ceiling height | 8 ft |
| Approximate volume | 600 cubic feet (cu ft)* |
| Realistic usable volume | 510 cu ft at moderate packing density |
| Door | 5 ft wide roll-up door |
| Similar to | a long, narrow single garage bay |
| Typical use | 1 bedroom apartment |
| Vehicle storage | A motorcycle or two, not a car |
| Typical monthly cost | $75–$140 standard, $95–$175 climate-controlled |
*Volume assumes an 8-foot ceiling. Usable capacity varies with door clearance, packing density and whether you leave an access aisle. Cost is a national reference range, reviewed August 2026.
What fits in a 5×15 storage unit?
- A one-bedroom apartment with appliances
- Two furnished bedrooms
- Long items other units cannot take end to end
- Around 100 medium boxes
Stored on its own, a 5×15 storage unit takes roughly 170 medium boxes at 3 cu ft each. In practice furniture takes most of the space and boxes fill what is left.
What does not fit
- Wide furniture — the width limit is the same as a 5x10
- A car
- Anyone who wants to see everything at once: the back 5 ft is effectively sealed
Example inventories
Real item lists, priced in cubic feet from our open dataset of packed volumes. Nothing here is rounded by hand.
A one-bedroom apartment — 437 cu ft, about 86% full
| Item | Qty | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Queen bed set | 1 | 60 cu ft |
| Sofa, 3-cushion | 1 | 50 cu ft |
| Dresser, double / triple | 1 | 40 cu ft |
| Medium box (3.0 cu ft) | 12 | 36 cu ft |
| Large box (4.5 cu ft) | 8 | 36 cu ft |
| Wardrobe box (11 cu ft) | 3 | 33 cu ft |
| Dining table | 1 | 30 cu ft |
| Washing machine | 1 | 25 cu ft |
| Clothes dryer | 1 | 25 cu ft |
| Bookcase, 4+ shelves | 1 | 20 cu ft |
| Dining chair | 4 | 20 cu ft |
| Armchair | 1 | 15 cu ft |
| TV stand / media console | 1 | 15 cu ft |
| Nightstand | 2 | 12 cu ft |
| Coffee table | 1 | 10 cu ft |
| TV, 50" and larger | 1 | 10 cu ft |
Is a 5×15 storage unit right for your home?
A one-bedroom apartment, or anyone who needs length rather than width — skis, ladders, lumber, long shelving.
| Home size | Estimated volume | Fill rate in this unit | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| what studio apartment needs | 278 cu ft | 55% | Comfortable |
| what 1 bedroom apartment needs | 445 cu ft | 87% | Comfortable |
This is the size where the answer genuinely splits, which is why a room count is not enough. The difference between a minimalist one-bedroom and a well-settled one is around 200 cubic feet — one whole unit size. If that is your situation, the the 1 bedroom apartment breakdown works through the same decision with the extras that usually push people up a size.
Choose a 5×15 storage unit or another size?
| If your load has… | Recommendation | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A one-bedroom load with long, narrow pieces | Choose 5×15 | The extra depth accepts items that can travel straight through the door. |
| A mixed load that must remain visible | Prefer 10×10 | The same general capacity in a square footprint is easier to inspect and rearrange. |
| Two furnished bedrooms without living-room furniture | Choose 5×15 with tight packing | The volume works, but access to the rear third will be limited. |
| A car or wide sectional pieces | Choose 10×15 or wider | Five feet is not enough practical manoeuvring width. |
How to pack a 5×15 storage unit
The same unit holds noticeably different amounts depending on how you load it. Three workable layouts:
- Depth-first. Least-needed items in the back third, seasonal in the middle, current in the front third. The only sane way to use a deep, narrow unit.
- Appliances at the door. Washer and dryer just inside the door on a pallet, everything else behind. Appliances are the hardest thing to move twice.
| Packing density | What it means | Usable volume | With a 15% access aisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loose | Nothing stacked above head height, fragile items, room to move things around. | 420 cu ft | 357 cu ft |
| Moderate | Stacked to around 7 ft with furniture placed sensibly. The default. | 510 cu ft | 434 cu ft |
| Tight | Stacked to the ceiling, uniform boxes, disassembled furniture. Needs planning. | 558 cu ft | 474 cu ft |
The gap between loose and tight packing in this unit is 120 cubic feet — often a whole unit size. Our packing guide covers how to get to the tight end without burying the things you need.
How much does a 5×15 storage unit cost?
A 5×15 storage unit typically costs $75–$140 per month for a standard unit and $95–$175 per month climate-controlled. These are national reference ranges, not quotes — city pricing runs well above them and rural pricing well below.
| Unit type | Typical monthly range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | $75–$140 | Drive-up or interior, no climate control |
| Climate-controlled | $95–$175 | Adds roughly 20–40% for temperature and humidity control |
National reference ranges before promotions, taxes and fees. Reviewed August 2026. See how storage pricing works and the fees that are not in the headline rate.
Full cost breakdown for this size, including what changes the price and what the first month usually looks like.
5×15 storage unit compared with nearby sizes
| Attribute | 5×15 storage unit | 5×10 storage unit | 10×10 storage unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floor area | 75 sq ft | 50 sq ft | 100 sq ft |
| Volume | 600 cu ft | 400 cu ft | 800 cu ft |
| Usable volume | 510 cu ft | 340 cu ft | 680 cu ft |
| Typical home | 1 bedroom apartment | Studio apartment | 1–2 bedroom apartment |
| Standard cost | $75–$140 | $55–$110 | $90–$180 |
Common mistakes when choosing a 5×15 storage unit
- Choosing by cubic feet alone and ignoring the 15 ft tunnel-shaped footprint.
- Putting appliances at the back even though they are the hardest objects to move twice.
- Failing to divide the unit into back, middle and front access zones before loading.
- Assuming a less common 5×15 will always cost less than a more usable 10×10.
Limitations of this estimate
Less popular than a 10x10 of similar price, and for good reason: the same volume in a 10 ft wide unit is far easier to use. Take a 5x15 when the price gap is real or a 10x10 is unavailable.
Three things this page cannot know: the actual interior dimensions at your facility (advertised sizes are nominal and real units are often a few inches under), the door and ceiling clearance, and how well you will pack. Measure your largest item and check it against the door width before you sign anything — our measuring guide covers what to record.
How we estimate capacity
Volume is floor area × ceiling height: 5 × 15 × 8 = 600 cu ft. Usable volume applies a packing-efficiency factor — 85% at moderate density — and subtracts a further 15% when you need an access aisle. Item volumes come from our our open dataset of packed volumes, which uses packed cubic feet, the same basis professional movers use on a cube sheet.
Cost ranges are aggregated from published list prices across major US operators and are reviewed twice a year. Full detail, assumptions and known error margins are on the the assumptions behind this figure.
Related questions
How many square feet is a 5×15 storage unit?
A 5×15 storage unit is 75 square feet of floor space (5 ft × 15 ft), which is about 600 cubic feet of volume with a standard 8 ft ceiling.
Is a 5×15 storage unit big enough for a 1 bedroom apartment?
Yes, at moderate packing density. A typical 1 bedroom apartment comes to about 445 cu ft, which fills roughly 87% of the usable space. Appliances, a garage or a home gym will push you to the next size.
How many boxes fit in a 5×15 storage unit?
About 170 medium (3 cu ft) boxes if the unit held nothing else. With furniture in there too, expect roughly a third of that.
Can I park a car in a 5×15 storage unit?
A motorcycle or two, not a car. Vehicle storage also needs a drive-up unit, facility permission and proof of registration and insurance — see the storing a vehicle in a unit.
What is the difference between a 5×15 storage unit and the next size up?
A 10×10 storage unit adds 200 cubic feet — roughly 3 bedroom sets' worth — for about $15–$40 more per month. Full comparison.