How to calculate storage space required

February 20, 2026

How to calculate storage space required

The measure that people use for calculating space required for storage is ‘volume’.

For anyone who struggled with maths, this can mean as much as a doctor’s handwriting (with apologies to the exceptions.)

But knowing how much space is needed is key to obtaining an accurate quote or booking the right space.

Unravelling the measures for calculating volume

Volume is a measure how much space is occupied by an object. The basic volume calculation is length × width × height.

It doesn’t matter which side you call what - the important thing is that all three are multiplied together.

As an example: A box that is 20cm width, 15cm long and 10 cm height has a volume of:

20 × 15 × 10 = 3000 cm cubed.

To find metres (m) cubed, divide it by a million, or put more simply, move the decimal point six places to the left.  

(In this example, 3000 cm cubed is equal to 0.003 metres cubed)  

Applying this to storage space

Some items aren’t square or rectangular. Whilst technically there are other, more precise and sophisticated ways to calculate this, what we’re trying to reach is an estimate of how much space will be needed to store everything.  

Unless you are an expert puzzle solver or mathematician, for the most part the easiest way to calculate what will be needed is to imagine a box around the object, and allocate space accordingly.  

This way you are likely to end up with a little space to spare for a few more things, rather than needing to unpack and start over in order to fit everything in, or to run out of space because everything doesn’t fit together perfectly.

Wherever possible, putting things into boxes https://easystorageboxes.com/ will not only make packing and stacking smoother, but will also offer a degree of extra protection. It’s not an essential: lamp stands and bicycles always create their own challenges. It’s simply a guide to make life simpler.

Why does it matter?

Most self-storage space is quoted by volume, for which there is a price. For traditional self-storage, this will be a room or garage type space which customers visit and fill the space. With easyStorage, this is an easyPod, which is brought to customers addresses for filling.

What will fit into what?

At 35 square feet, an easyPod is roughly the size of a garden shed. Realistically this would be enough space for queen sized bed, a dining table and chairs, topped off with boxes.  

At 70 square feet, two easyPods is roughly the size of a bedroom and could house the entire contents of a one-bedroom flat, including a sofa and armchairs (ie the larger furniture).

Three easyPods? Roughly the size of two bedrooms, 105 square feet would normally comfortably accommodate the contents of a two to three bedroom house, including garden furniture and tools.

Space calculator

To help a little more, easyStorage has created a space calculator: https://www.easystorage.com/space-guide

This handy tool allows users to enter item by item, room by room, what they expect to pack, in order to help calculate space.

There will always be exceptions, objects outside of the normal or which aren’t on the list. For these things, the ‘box’ exercise above, guestimating the space, should help.

Here to help

Apart from the space calculator mentioned above, a no obligation quote on storage can be found here: https://book.easystorage.com/ easyStorage prices are around half the price of traditional self-storage.

Moreover, easyStorage will collect and deliver back your belongings, saving the cost and hassle associated with traditional self-storage.  

Easy!

Latest popular posts
Discover the articles our readers are engaging with the most right now.

Self-Storage: A Beginner's Decluttering Solution in Becoming a Minimalist

If you are a late 20s adult, fast approaching to thirty, and thriving phase of your life who has been having a very chaotic world, I bet you probably thought of soul searching and even do a web research on how you can live peacefully, while still holding on for your dear life and fighting from the everyday struggle of being an adult. You have probably been hanging out most of the time in a bookstore, most specifically in the lifestyle section, searching for that one special book that might give you tips on how you can live your life in tranquility and reach that ultimate goal in living simply and satisfied. Well, folks, does it sound like I am speaking from experience?
Learn more →

The Real Cost of Self-Storage in London: Are You Overpaying for Storage

As the self-storage industry is becoming larger and larger every year, almost all of them have the same offerings to get customers' attention. There are an estimated 1,582 self-storage facilities in the UK, providing a total of approximately 45.6 million sq. ft. of storage space according to the 2019 survey conducted by Self-Storage Association UK (SSA UK). Out of all those storage places located in the UK alone, what are the chances of you finding the perfect one without overpaying for it?
Learn more →

Storage Unit Size Guide: How Much Space Do You Need

"One size fits all" doesn't always work in planning to rent a storage unit. You have to consider that your belongings are not uniform in size or dimensions. Some of them have awkward shapes and even a single item can really occupy a lot of space. Just like a piano. Even the number of each item you will store should be considered as well. You have to sort them out and decide how many of them should stay and how many should go. Feeling overwhelmed now?
Learn more →