How much storage space do I need?

Start with a list of what you're storing. Two scenarios:

• Less-used items — [decluttering], seasonal or loose items from one room
• Whole household — a move or renovation

Then walk room by room past the big pieces (sofa, bed, wardrobes, table) and the boxes. That difference decides everything: clearing a few rooms is very different from storing a whole house.

Storage is about volume, not floor area. A cubic metre (m³) is 1 by 1 by 1 metre — about ten moving boxes fit in it. In short:

• Stack smartly and fill hollow spaces (cupboards, drawers) — far more than you'd expect
• At Inbox you combine units of 4, 6 or 8 m³
• You only pay for the volume you actually use

Quick rule of thumb by situation:

• Loose, less-used items: 8 to 12% of your living area in volume
• Whole household: use the guide by home type below
• Average unit with us: around 18 m³ — a full household runs toward 38 m³

Tip: want to know what 18 m³ per month costs? Check our page on what storage costs per month for a price indication per volume.

The fastest and most precise way: our storage calculator. How it works:

• Pick per room or per item what you're storing (sofa, wardrobe, fridge, boxes)
• See instantly how many m³ you need and what it costs
• Still unsure? Our advisors can estimate it over the phone

A single room or student room. What fits:

• Bed, wardrobe, desk + stack of boxes
• Ideal for freeing up space while decluttering
• Or for seasonal items (garden furniture, Christmas boxes)

Tip: specifically for students — read our guide on student storage for tips on bridging between two rooms and summer storage.

A studio up to a two-bedroom apartment. What this usually fits:

• Sofa, bed(s), dining table + chairs
• Wardrobes and boxes
• Popular for apartment moves or renovations

Tip: in a big city — read how self-storage in Amsterdam compares to mobile storage: differences in price, hassle and flexibility.

The complete contents of a terraced or family home. What fits:

• Several bedrooms and a spacious living room
• Kitchen contents and attic items
• Our average customer is around 18 m³, a whole house quickly reaches 36 m³

Tip: with a renovation you don't necessarily store everything. Read our guide on storage during renovation for the checklist of what does and doesn't go in.

A large or detached house with full contents. Characteristics:

• Including garage and attic contents
• Above 50 m³ is rare for households
• Need more? The calculator simply works it out up to large volumes

About ten standard moving boxes, or for example a washing machine plus a few loose boxes. A cubic metre (1 × 1 × 1 metre) is more than most people think — especially if you stack smartly and fill hollow spaces.

In m³ (volume), not m² (floor area). With storage you use the height too: stacking and disassembling saves a lot of space. That's why we sell in cubic metres, so you pay exactly for your volume.

For a studio or one-room, reckon on 4 to 12 m³; for a 2-3 room apartment, 14 to 24 m³. Living in Amsterdam? Read how self-storage in Amsterdam compares to mobile storage.

No problem — you're not locked in. You combine separate units, so you adjust your storage easily. Scaling up during your storage period costs nothing extra. Torn between self-storage and mobile storage? The choice mostly hinges on this kind of flexibility.

A washing machine or fridge is about 1 m³, a double bed 2 to 3 m³, a three-seater sofa 3 to 4 m³ and a wardrobe 2 to 3 m³ (less when disassembled). Add up your big pieces and count some boxes on top.

If you want access to your things in between, allow a little extra space. If you store everything in one go until you get it back, you can fill units compactly. In doubt? Go one size up — scaling up costs nothing extra.