One Building Doesn't Mean One Unit Size

When planning a new self storage facility, one of the most important decisions isn't simply how large the buildings should be. It's how that square footage should be divided.  A property filled with units that are too large for the local market can struggle just as much as one dominated by small units when renters are searching for larger spaces.  The goal is to develop a thoughtfulself storage unit mix that gives customers choices while making efficient use of the available property. 

Common Self Storage Unit Sizes

Storage facilities can be configured with numerous unit dimensions, but some sizes are especially familiar to consumers.

Common configurations include:

5' x 5' Storage Units

These compact units can appeal to customers storing boxes, seasonal decorations, documents, small furniture and personal belongings.

5' x 10' Storage Units

A versatile smaller unit that can accommodate furniture, appliances, boxes, business inventory and the contents of a small apartment.

10' x 10' Storage Units

The 10x10 is one of the most recognizable storage configurations. Its square footprint makes it useful for furniture, household contents, equipment and business inventory.

10' x 15' Storage Units

This size provides additional capacity without moving into the footprint of the largest storage units.

10' x 20' Storage Units

Larger units can serve customers moving homes, businesses storing inventory or equipment, and customers who simply need significantly more storage space.

10' x 30' Storage Units

These large units can accommodate substantial household contents, commercial inventory, equipment and other large-storage requirements.

Don't Assume Every Market Wants the Same Mix

There is no universal perfect storage unit mix.  A facility near apartments and condominiums may have different demand than a property located near contractors, farms or industrial businesses. Before finalizing your building layout, consider the customers within your trade area. 

Are they primarily homeowners?

Renters? 

College students? 

Small businesses?

Contractors?

RV and boat owners?

Understanding the likely customer base can help determine how much space should be allocated to small, medium and large units.

Why Unit Mix Matters to Your Building Design

Every partition determines where one rental space ends and another begins.  That means your unit mix affects door quantities, partitions, building dimensions and ultimately the number of rentable units that can fit on the property. This is why unit planning should happen early in the design process. You aren't simply purchasing a steel building. You're creating a collection of individual spaces that will become the inventory of your storage business. 

Consider Flexibility for the Future

Storage demand can change.  One advantage of planning a steel mini storage facility carefully is the ability to think about future expansion and changing customer demand before construction begins. If your property has additional usable land, consider how another storage building could eventually fit into the site. Planning drive aisles, drainage, access and building placement with expansion in mind can make future growth easier. 

Build Around Your Market

Choosing storage unit sizes should be a business decision, not a guess.  Duro Storage can work with developers and storage operators to design steel mini storage buildings around the desired building dimensions, unit configurations and property requirements. 

From traditional drive-up mini storage to climate-controlled facilities and larger storage spaces, we can help you develop a building system that fits your project.

Call Duro Storage at 800-872-5740 to discuss your self storage project and request factory-direct pricing.