.png)
Storage Made Simple
What Kind of Storage Do I Need?
A handful of quick questions. We'll recommend a unit size, tell you which features actually matter for what you're storing, and email you a copy to keep.
Let's find your fit
Most people either rent a unit that's too small and end up renting a second one, or pay for space they never fill. This tool asks what you're storing, how often you'll need it, and how long it'll be there — then gives you a size and a short list of features worth having.
Takes about two minutes. No account needed.
How This Tool Decides
The recommendation is built on usable cubic feet rather than gross volume. A 10×10 unit is 100 square feet, but you can't fill all 800 cubic feet of it — you need a walkway, you can't stack to the ceiling safely, and household items don't tessellate. This tool assumes roughly 80% of a unit's volume is realistically usable at a safe stack height, which is why its answers sometimes come in one size larger than a chart based on raw square footage.
Three inputs drive the size:
- Volume of goods. Estimated from the home size or business inventory you select, scaled by how much of it you're actually storing.
- Bulky extras. Appliances, lawn equipment, exercise machines, and workshop tools add space that bedroom-count estimates miss entirely.
- Access frequency. If you're pulling things out weekly, you need an aisle down the middle of the unit. That costs real square footage, so frequent-access answers get padded.
What The Feature Recommendations Mean
Climate Control
Climate-controlled units hold a moderated temperature range instead of tracking whatever the weather outside is doing. That matters in the Southeast, where a standard unit can swing well past comfortable on a July afternoon and back down overnight. Repeated heat cycling does slow, cumulative damage: glue joints and veneer on wood furniture loosen, finishes and varnish soften, leather dries and cracks, candles and adhesives fail outright, batteries and screens in stored electronics degrade faster, and photographs, vinyl records, and tapes curl and warp. If you're storing furniture, electronics, media, artwork, or instruments for more than a season, the tool will recommend it.
If you're storing metal shelving, plastic bins of holiday decorations, patio furniture, or tools, it usually isn't worth the difference.
Drive-Up Access
A drive-up unit lets you pull a vehicle or rental truck directly to the door instead of carting things through a hallway and up an elevator. The tool recommends it when you're storing heavy or awkward items, moving a large volume in at once, or planning to visit often. The tradeoff: drive-up units are typically exterior-facing, so they're less commonly climate controlled. When the tool recommends both, it says which one to prioritize.
Ground Floor
If drive-up isn't available at the location you want, a ground-floor interior unit is the next best thing for heavy loads — no elevator, shorter carry.
Renting With 10 Federal
Every 10 Federal location is fully contactless. There's no office to visit and no manager to meet — you pick your unit, rent it online, and get access through your online account and the keypad at the gate. A free lock is included with every move-in, so you don't need to bring one or buy one on the way. Terms are month-to-month, which matters if the tool told you “3 to 12 months” but your timeline slips, and we accept all major credit and debit cards.
A protection plan is required at checkout at all locations, and it's added during the online rental process.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is a storage size recommendation?
Treat it as a starting point, not a measurement. Two three-bedroom homes can differ by hundreds of cubic feet depending on furniture style, how much is in the garage, and how well you pack. The tool leans slightly conservative on purpose — running out of room mid-move is a much worse problem than having a few feet to spare.
What if I'm between two sizes?
Go up if you're moving in a hurry, storing furniture you don't want to disassemble, or expect to add to the unit later. Go down if you're packing in uniform boxes, disassembling bed frames and tables, and have time to load carefully. Because terms are month-to-month, switching later is a change to your rental rather than a penalty.
Do I need climate control in North Carolina?
For anything wood, leather, electronic, musical, or media-based, it's worth considering — a standard unit tracks outdoor temperatures, and Southeast summers put stored belongings through months of heat cycling that adds up over a single season. For plastic bins, metal, and outdoor gear, standard units are usually fine.
What size unit fits a car?
A 10×20 fits most sedans and compact cars. Full-size trucks, vans, boats on trailers, and smaller RVs generally need a 10×30, and large RVs need the biggest spaces available. Vehicle and RV storage availability varies by location, so check what's offered near you.
Can I change unit sizes after I move in?
Yes — with month-to-month terms you can transfer to a different unit as your needs change, subject to what's available at that location. Our friendly customer support team can walk you through it.
What's the smallest unit 10 Federal offers?
5×5, which is about the footprint of a small closet. It holds roughly 15 to 20 boxes plus a few small items — enough for seasonal decorations, business records, or a dorm room's worth of belongings.
The short version: size for what you're actually storing plus a walkway, pay for climate control only when the contents warrant it, and don't over-plan the term — month-to-month means the decision isn't permanent.