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!

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