How to Pack and Organize a Storage Unit

Select the Best Unit Size For Your Needs

A good self storage facility will have units in a variety of sizes. Open City Self Storage has unit sizes starting from 5'x10' up to 10'x30'. If you choose a size that is too small for your needs, you may struggle to fit your belongings into the storage unit. Maintaining an organized space is difficult if the storage unit is too small.

Refer to our sizes page for information about units of each size. Here, we list unit sizes and describe how much stuff can fit in each space. If you're still unsure what size storage unit to rent, come see the available units in person. Take an inventory of everything that you'll be storing in your unit before you visit. Knowing what to store can help you choose a unit size that can comfortably fit your items.

Choose Durable, Stackable Containers

Vertical space is valuable. Making use of your storage unit's vertical space can help you get more into your storage unit. Stack containers in manageable piles. To make your stacks stable, choose durable containers designed to be placed one on top of the other.



These containers need to be durable enough that the containers at the bottom won't be crushed by the many containers on top. Consider plastic tubs sold at your local hardware or home improvement store for this purpose. Put heavy items together in tubs and place the heaviest tubs at the bottom of the stacks.

Use a Color-Coded Labeling System

Categorize the items you're putting into storage, then assign each category a color. Use this color-coded system to group items of the same category in your unit.

For example, kitchen items may be in the red category, and bedroom items may be in the blue category. Place kitchen items in red tubs, and place all red tubs in your storage unit. Place all bedroom items in blue tubs, and place blue tubs in a different spot in the unit. Using colors in this way makes it easy to sort all items together in the proper stacks inside your storage unit so that when you need to find an item from a specific category, you can find all boxes in that category easily.



Label each box on all sides except the bottom. Write the contents in large, clear letters. If you don't have tubs of different colors, attach labels in different colors to maintain your color-coding system. Consider placing items you need to access regularly in clear plastic bins so you can easily see what's in the bin.

Disassemble Large Items

Large items, such as furniture or bicycles, can take up too much space in your storage unit. Take apart these items so they can be easily stashed away.



When you take apart the items, place the nuts, bolts, and screws into a sandwich bag. Tape the sandwich bag somewhere on the item. Make a video of yourself taking the item apart, or write down the process, so you'll know how to put it back together when the time comes. If you keep a written record of how to reassemble the item, tape the instructions to the item so all pieces can be found in one location.

Organize by Accessibility

Place items you need to access regularly in parts of your storage unit that are easy to reach. Avoid placing items that you often need at the bottom of a pile or toward the back of a pile.

Maximize Vertical Space

You can only stack containers so high before the stack becomes unstable. Consider installing shelves or bookcases in your storage unit to maximize your vertical space. Stacking containers on a shelf (instead of stacking containers in a very tall pile) can make the stacks more stable. This allows you to use even more vertical space in your unit.

Create Clear Pathways

Create pathways between stacks or categories of items. Keep these pathways clear to ensure that you can navigate your storage unit safely and easily.



The larger your storage unit is, the more important it is that you make pathways. If you have a very large storage unit, make a map so you can navigate your storage unit easily. Keep the map posted near the front of your storage unit, so you can easily reach the map when you're using the unit.

Digitize Your Inventory

Need to know what's in your storage unit? Make an inventory, then save the inventory somewhere in the cloud. This is a trick that many businesses use when they're placing items in storage, but you can do this whether it's your personal inventory or business inventory.

Find Your Storage Unit Today at Open City Self Storage

Maintaining good storage unit organization can help you have a good experience when you're using your storage unit. Another way to have a good experience with your storage unit is to rent from a company you can trust.

Open City Self Storage offers units in many sizes to meet our customer's needs. We service customers ranging from college students to homeowners to businesses to people who need to store their vehicles for winter.

Need more tips on how to pack and organize your self storage unit? Talk to the pros at Open City Self Storage about storage unit organization. We can give advice and provide tips to help you during your self storage experience. Contact Open City Self Storage to start renting a storage unit that meets your unique needs.