How to pack a storage unit
so you can find things later

Before you pack a single box

Packing for storage is different from packing for a move. On moving day, boxes are opened within a week. In storage, they might sit for months, and you may need to find one particular thing halfway through.

So spend half an hour planning first. Decide what will need to come out during the storage period (paperwork, seasonal clothes, tools) and what will not (spare furniture, the good china). The first group goes near the front. The second goes at the back and can be stacked high.

Then clean and dry everything. Dust and crumbs attract pests, and anything put away damp can develop mould, especially in a closed space. Fridges and freezers should be defrosted and dried with the doors left slightly open. Washing machines should be drained.

Boxes and materials worth buying

• Same-size sturdy boxes. Matching sizes stack into stable walls. Supermarket boxes of all shapes do not.
• Small boxes for heavy things. Books, files and tins go in small boxes so each one can still be lifted safely.
• Plastic crates with lids for anything you want extra protection for, such as documents or textiles.
• Breathable dust sheets for furniture. Plastic sheeting wrapped tight can trap moisture.
• Packing paper, bubble wrap and tape, plus a thick marker pen.
• Pallets or plastic bearers to lift boxes slightly off the floor, if you are storing for a long time.

Filling boxes properly

Fill every box to the top. A half-empty box crushes when another is stacked on it, and that is how things get broken in storage. Fill gaps with towels, clothes or scrunched paper.

Heavy items go at the bottom of each box, light ones at the top. Plates stand on their edges like records, wrapped individually. Glasses get a sheet of paper each and go upright. Lampshades and hats go in their own boxes with nothing on top.

Keep any box under a weight you can lift comfortably to shoulder height. If you cannot lift it, neither can whoever helps you get it out again.

Label for the person who unpacks

Write on at least two sides of every box, not the top, because the top disappears once it is stacked. Include the room it came from and a short list of contents. A number helps too.

Then keep a simple inventory: box number, contents, and roughly where in the unit it is. A note on your phone is enough. Photos of each open box before you seal it take seconds and save a lot of guessing later. The inventory also helps if you ever need to make an insurance claim, which our storage insurance guide covers.

Loading order, step by step

1. Protect the floor layerPut pallets or bearers down first if you are storing long term, especially for boxes of paper or fabric.
2. Large furniture against the back wallWardrobes, bookcases and mattresses on their sides go in first. Stand mattresses upright in covers rather than laying things on them.
3. Build walls of boxesHeaviest boxes at the bottom, lighter ones higher. Keep each column straight and stable. Do not stack above a height you can safely reach.
4. Leave an aisleA walkway down the middle or along one side lets you reach every wall. It costs some space but saves unloading everything for one box.
5. Fill the gapsUse the spaces inside wardrobes and drawers for light items, cushions and linen.
6. Front row for things you needSeasonal bags, the toolbox, paperwork and anything you will want back soon go last, nearest the door.

Furniture and awkward items

Take legs off tables and beds where you can and tape the fixings in a bag to the main piece. Keep sofas upright on their feet, not on end, unless the manufacturer says otherwise. Mirrors and pictures should stand on edge, wrapped, never flat with things on top. Our furniture storage guide goes into more detail.

Bikes can hang or lean along a wall. Garden tools are best grouped in a bin or crate so blades are covered. Anything with a fuel tank, such as a lawnmower, must be emptied first. Some things should not go in at all, and what not to store lists them.

Protecting against damp, dust and pests

Any closed space can collect dust, and anything stored damp will stay damp. A few habits make a big difference over a long storage period.

• Make sure everything is completely dry before it goes in, including tents, garden cushions and freshly washed bedding.
• Keep a small gap between boxes and the walls so air can move around them.
• Never store food, even sealed snacks. It is the quickest way to attract mice and insects.
• Cover upholstered furniture and mattresses with breathable covers.
• Use lidded crates for paper, photos and fabric, and lift them off the floor.
• Do not seal electronics in airtight plastic bags. Wrap them in a soft cloth and pack them in their original boxes if you still have them.

Visit every few weeks if you are storing long term. A quick look and a lift of a few covers will spot a problem while it is still small.

Making the most of our units

Our ground-floor units are windowless but have lighting and power already connected, so you can see what you are doing at any hour. With 24-hour access you can load in stages rather than cramming it all into one rushed day. The 150 sq ft and 180 sq ft units have roller shutters, which make loading furniture much easier. The 160 sq ft unit has a security door, so plan for items that go through a standard doorway.

If you are still choosing, our unit size guide helps you match your list to a space.

Keeping it organised after the first day

Units tend to start tidy and slide into chaos. Each visit, someone pulls out a box from the middle, takes what they need and leaves it by the door. Six months later, the aisle has gone.

A few rules keep it under control. Put boxes back where they came from, and update your inventory if you move something. Keep a small empty area near the door as a landing spot so you are not tempted to block the walkway. If the unit gets steadily fuller, that is a sign either to have a clear-out or to ask about a bigger space.

For businesses, the same applies with more urgency. Wasted time searching for stock is a real cost. Shelving with labelled bays, and a simple rule that every item has a home, pays for itself quickly.

Questions

Prices are subject to availability. Minimum rental term: one month, then one month’s notice to leave. Electricity usage is charged separately at the supplier rate, with no markup. Business use needs prior approval. Car storage is not permitted.