Storage Unit Sizes in Australia: What Fits in Each One

There is no industry standard for storage unit sizes in Australia, so two units with the same label can hold quite different amounts. StorHub lists units by floor area, from 1 m² to 50 m². Compare live options at StorHub locations across Australia. All dimensions and capacities below are indicative, because unit shapes and ceiling heights vary. 

Getting the size right matters for two reasons. A unit that's too small leaves you repacking on move-in day or booking a second unit, while a unit that's too big means paying for floor area you never use. The sections below start with a quick decision, work through each size band with real-world examples, and finish with a simple way to measure your own belongings.

The 30-Second Storage Size Decision 

Choose by home size, not guesswork 

Start with what you're storing, using these bands from StorHub's size guide: 

• Boxes, documents or seasonal gear: a locker of around 1–2 m² 
• Studio or one-bedroom home: a small unit of around 4–5 m² 
• Two-bedroom home: a medium unit of around 9 m², such as 3 m × 3 m 
• Three- to four-bedroom home: a large unit of around 18 m² 
• Business stock or a large household: micro warehouses of 25–50 m² at selected facilities 

Use home size as a starting point, then adjust. A minimalist two-bedroom apartment may fit the small-unit band, while a one-bedroom home with a piano, a home gym or a large book collection may need the medium band. What you own matters more than how many bedrooms it came from. 

Allow for access room and future additions 

Leave a walkway so you can reach items at the back and allow for anything you'll add later. If you sit between two sizes and will visit often, the larger unit usually saves time. If you'll pack once and leave it for months, a snug fit may be fine. 

Think about the order; you'll need things, too. Items you'll want back first, such as seasonal clothing or tools, should sit near the door, which only works if you keep a short walkway clear. The more often you plan to visit, the more access room you should allow. 

Storage Unit Sizes at a Glance 

Master comparison table: unit size, example dimensions, what fits and best use 

Match your contents to a volume band, then check the indicative floor area. 

Each band lists typical contents, the floor area you'd need with a walkway, and a note on access. Prices aren't shown because they vary by facility, size and promotion, so check live rates in the booking flow. 

*Indicative only. Assumes stacking to about 2 m with a walkway; actual dimensions, ceiling heights and prices vary by facility. For typical prices, see our self-storage cost guide. 

Explain cubic metres versus square metres 

Square metres (m²) measure floor area: length × width. Cubic metres (m³) measure volume: length × width × height. StorHub, like most facilities, lists units by floor area, but your belongings take up volume, so two 4 m² units with different ceiling heights hold different amounts. Ask about ceiling height if you plan to stack high or add shelving. 

Here's a simple illustration using hypothetical heights. A 4 m² unit with a 2.2 m ceiling has about 8.8 m³ of gross volume; the same floor area with a 2.7 m ceiling has about 10.8 m³. That 2 m³ difference is roughly 20 moving cartons. Neither figure is what you can practically fill, because you'll leave a walkway and some headroom, but it shows why floor area alone can mislead when you compare facilities. 

When you compare facilities, ask for the floor area and ceiling height, or the unit volume if it's listed. If two units share the same floor area, the taller one usually holds more boxes, but only if you can stack safely to that height. For furniture, floor area often matters more than height, because sofas and beds can't be stacked. 

Locker to 3 Cubic Metres: Boxes, Documents and Seasonal Gear 

What fits in a locker or 1 cubic metre 

About 1 m³ holds roughly 8–10 standard moving cartons, a few archive boxes or a suitcase. Lockers suit items you want out of the house but may need at short notice, such as tax records or winter clothing. 

Lockers are less suited to long or awkward items. A surfboard, rug or flat-pack wardrobe may need more length than a locker offers, even if its volume is small, so measure your longest item before choosing the smallest size. For paperwork, lidded archive boxes stack neatly and are easier to label than loose folders. 

What fits in 2–3 cubic metres 

This band covers a small bedroom. StorHub's own example: a single bed (about 1 m³), a box of linen and two boxes of bedroom items add up to about 2.5 m³, which fits a unit of around 1.5 m². A bicycle, camping gear, surfboards or golf clubs land in the same range. 

Bicycles show why floor area can matter more than volume. A bike has little volume, but its length and handlebars need floor room, and it's awkward to stack anything on top, so allow floor room for each one. 

Who these sizes suit 

Students between semesters, apartment dwellers, small businesses archiving records, and anyone clearing a spare room for a season. 

They also suit travellers heading overseas for a few months who want documents, valuables, and sentimental items out of a sublet or shared house. 

6 to 12 Cubic Metres: One- to Two-Bedroom Contents 

What fits in 6 cubic metres 

Around 6 m³ suits a studio or lightly furnished one-bedroom home: a queen bed, a two-seater sofa, bedside tables, a TV unit and 20–30 cartons. It also works for clearing one or two rooms during a kitchen or bathroom renovation. 

If you're storing during a renovation, you may need items back mid-project, such as a box of kitchen essentials or tools. Pack those last so they sit at the front, and label boxes on two sides so you can read them from the walkway. 

Studio and one-bedroom content also vary with how much you dismantle. Taking apart a bed frame and removing table legs can bring a studio comfortably into this band, while fully assembled furniture may push you into the next one. 

How big is a 3m x 3m storage unit? 

A 3m x 3m unit has 9 m² of floor area. Its volume depends on ceiling height: at a hypothetical 2.4 m ceiling, that's about 21.6 m³ gross. Leave a 0.8 m walkway and stack to about 2 m, and the volume you can practically fill is closer to 12–15 m³, which is why StorHub's size guide places a 9 m² unit at roughly a two-bedroom home. Never assume 9 m² means 9 m³, or that every 3 × 3 unit has the same height. 

If you're comparing a 3m x 3m unit with a long, narrow unit of similar floor area, consider layout as well as size. A square unit is easier to arrange around a central walkway, while a narrow unit suits items stored along one side, such as boxes on shelving, with the walkway down the other. 

What fits in 12 cubic metres 

About 12 m³ fits a typical two-bedroom apartment: two beds, a three-seater sofa, a dining setting for four, a fridge, a washing machine, a desk and 30–40 cartons. It's a common choice for a gap between settlement dates. 

What usually pushes a two-bedroom household into the next band isn't the main furniture but everything around it: outdoor furniture, a second fridge, bikes or a home office. List those separately before you settle on a size. 

15 to 20+ Cubic Metres: A Full Family Home 

Two- to three-bedroom home contents 

Fifteen to twenty-plus cubic metres covers a two- to three-bedroom house: a lounge suite, several beds, a dining setting for six, whitegoods and 50 or more cartons. StorHub's size guide puts three- to four-bedroom contents in a large unit of around 18 m². 

For family moves, organise the load by priority. Furniture and boxes you won't need until the new home is ready can go to the back, while children's items, seasonal clothing and work equipment stay near the door. If the household is larger than four bedrooms, a larger unit or a micro warehouse may suit better than squeezing everything into one standard unit. 

Large furniture, appliances and garage items 

Family homes come with bulky items beyond the main rooms, such as outdoor settings, barbecues, bikes, mowers and tools. Measure these separately, as they often push a household into the next band. Empty fuel from equipment and check the storage agreement for items that can't be stored. 

A practical approach is to measure the garage separately and treat it as its own room. Hard-to-stack items such as mowers, barbecues and wheelbarrows use floor area rather than height, so they can need more room than their volume suggests. Group tall items like ladders and garden tools against a wall to keep the centre clear. 

When drive-up access is useful 

Parking beside your unit saves a lot of carrying whitegoods, a piano or trade gear. StorHub's micro warehouses (25–50 m²) offer drive-up and ground-floor access at selected facilitie.  StorHub also offers a free move-in van for big items; ask your facility about booking and conditions. 

If drive-up isn't available, ask how far the loading area is from your unit and whether trolleys and lifts are available, so you can plan helpers and timing for heavy items. 

Whatever the access types, plan your move for a time when you won't be rushed. Loading a full household usually takes longer than people expect, and having the right size unit ready makes the job faster. 

How to Estimate Your Storage Volume Before Booking 

Measure and list bulky items 

Walk through each room with a tape measure and list anything that won't go in a box. Note length, width, and height to the nearest 10 cm, and count your boxes. The StorHub Box Shop have cartons and tape if you need them. 

A few measuring tips save surprises later. Measure furniture at its widest points, including handles and legs. Note what can be dismantled: bed frames, table legs and some shelving take far less room flat than assembled. Stackable chairs and nested items count once, not individually. 

Convert dimensions into cubic metres 

Length × width × height = cubic metres. Here's a worked example using hypothetical measurements:

Estimate only. At a practical stacking height of about 2 m, 7.2 m³ needs around 3.6 m² of floor. Add a walkway and a margin, and a unit of around 4–5 m² is a sensible start. 

Accuracy to the nearest 10 cm is enough. The goal isn't a perfect number but a sensible range, so you can choose between two sizes with confidence. If your total sits on the line between two bands, round up if you'll visit often and round down if you'll pack once and leave it. 

Use box counts and room equivalents 

No time to measure everything? Work by rooms using the master table bands. A carton of about 0.6 × 0.4 × 0.4 m is close to 0.1 m³, so ten cartons make roughly one cubic metre.

Rough guide only. Furniture sizes vary widely, so measure your bulky items before relying on a room equivalent. 

Ask for a size check before committing. 

Call 1300 713 358 or visit your nearest StorHub facility for guidance on choosing the right unit size. StorHub's specialists are on site six days a week at Rouse Hill, Forestville, Homebush, Revesby, Miranda, North Lakes, Fyshwick, Braeside and Seaford, and seeing a unit in person is the surest way to confirm fit. Before booking, tick off this checklist:

If you visit in person, bring your measurement list and photos of bulky items so staff can suggest a size quickly. 

Staff can also tell you which sizes are currently available at that site, so you don't settle a size that isn't free on your move-in date. 

The Costliest Storage Sizing Mistakes 

Paying for unused air and floor area 

Booking one size up "just in case" without measuring often means paying every month for an empty floor. If your list fits comfortably with a walkway, you don't need the next band. 

If you're unsure, start with the size your measurements support and adjust later if your needs change. 

Measuring also helps you compare offers fairly. If one facility's smallest suitable unit is 4 m² and another's 5 m², knowing your actual volume tells you whether the larger unit is worth it or simply more floor than you need. 

Choosing a unit too tightly packed to access 

A snugly packed smaller unit costs less each month, but reaching anything at the back means unloading the front. If you visit often, a slightly larger unit can save hours of handling. Keep heavy items low: Safe Work Australia identifies lifting heavy or awkward objects as a high-force task that can cause injury. 

Packing density also affects how much a unit holds. Freestanding shelving lets you use height boxes without stacking them on top of each other, which protects lower cartons from crushing. Put the heaviest boxes at the bottom and fragile items on top, and store mattresses and sofas as the manufacturer recommends rather than wedged under other items. 

Ignoring ceiling height, doors and corridors 

A long sofa may fit the floor plan but not the door or a corridor turn. Measure door openings, check lift dimensions for upper floors, and keep fragile items on top rather than under heavy boxes. 

Fragile items such as mirrors, artwork, and glass-topped tables need careful placement. Store them upright against a wall, wrapped and clearly labelled, and keep them out of the main walkway, so they aren't knocked when you reach for other items. 

Can You Change Unit Size Later? 

Availability and transfer considerations 

Yes. StorHub's FAQs state you can upsize, downsize or move out at no additional cost. Storage is month-to-month; a vacating notice period applies, and a different size depends on availability at your facility, so ask early. 

If you move to a different unit, plan the transfer for a day when you have help, because everything needs to be carried between units. Label boxes clearly beforehand, so the move is quick. 

It helps to tell the facility team about your plans when you book, for example if you expect to downsize after settlement, so they can advise on availability ahead of time.

When to size up or down 

Size up if you're adding items during a renovation or staged move; size down after a clear-out. Check current promotions before you switch. 

A staged approach can also work. During a move with a settlement gap, you might start in a larger unit, then move to a smaller one once the bulky furniture has gone to the new home, and only boxes remain. Ask early, because the size you want may not be available on the day you need it. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What size storage unit do I need? 

A: It depends on what you're storing. StorHub's size guide suggests a locker of 1–2 m² for boxes and documents, around 4–5 m² for a one-bedroom home, around 9 m² for two bedrooms and around 18 m² for three to four bedrooms. 

Q: How big is a 3m x 3m storage unit? 

A:  A 3m x 3m unit has 9 m² of floor area. Its volume depends on ceiling height: at a hypothetical 2.4 m ceiling it holds about 21.6 m³ in total, but packed to a practical height with a walkway, the usable volume is closer to 12–15 m³. That is roughly the contents of a two-bedroom home. 

Q: What fits in a 12 cubic metre unit? 

A:  About 12 m³ typically holds a two-bedroom apartment: two beds, a three-seater sofa, a dining setting for four, a fridge, a washing machine and 30–40 cartons. Fit depends on furniture size, stacking and how much walkway you leave, so treat it as a guide, not a guarantee. 

Q: What size storage unit do I need for a three-bedroom house? 

A: A large unit of around 18 m² for three- to four-bedroom contents. A decluttered three-bedroom home with modest furniture may need less, while garage and outdoor items can push you higher. Measure your bulky items first, then ask StorHub for a size check before you book. 

Q: Can I change the unit size later? 

A: Yes. StorHub says you can upsize, downsize or move out at no additional cost, and storage is month-to-month. Moving to a different size depends on what is available at your facility, and a vacating notice period applies when you leave. Contact your facility as soon as your plans change.