If you have had enough of renting a place in NYC, you must be pondering what to do next. All sorts of questions must be popping up in your head, and they, for the most part, include finances. However, you should know that there are some neighborhoods across the five NYC boroughs which are rather affordable. The trick is knowing how to find them. Park Slope, for example, is one of the aforementioned neighborhoods. Did you know that buying a home in Park Slope will not leave you broke at the end of the day? If we got you interested, keep on reading. Here are some valuable tips on how to buy a home in Park Slope! Continue reading “Tips for buying a home in Park Slope”
Tag: Moving to New York
How to Pick the Right Size Storage Unit (and When You Don’t Have To)
In New York, start one size smaller than the national charts suggest. The average NYC one-bedroom is 697 square feet — about 200 square feet under the U.S. average apartment — so its contents typically fit a 5×10 unit (50 square feet, 400 cubic feet, roughly 20 large boxes plus two big furniture pieces), and the most-rented unit size in the city is the smallest one, the 5×5. Measure by what you own, not by your bedroom count. And if the storage is part of a move — a lease gap, a renovation, a delayed closing — you can skip the sizing question entirely: a full-service mover like Big Apple Moving, moving New Yorkers since 1979, prices storage on your inventory’s actual cubic feet, not on a unit you guessed.
Choosing storage space is a volume problem that gets sold as a floor-plan problem. Units are priced by footprint — 5×5, 5×10, 10×10 — but what you are buying is cubic feet under a standard 8-foot ceiling, and what you own is measured in boxes and furniture, not floor tiles. This guide translates between the two: real dimensions, honest capacity figures, and the New York adjustments the national charts leave out.
Size is half the decision. What the space costs is the other half — current NYC figures live in our guide to self-storage unit costs — and how you pack decides how much of the unit you actually use; see how to organize a storage unit for that part.
Storage Unit Sizes, Measured in Boxes
Every major operator publishes the same ladder of sizes, and the dimensions are standard enough to rely on. What the brochures undersell is capacity in the unit that matters on moving day — large boxes — so this table says it in boxes.
| Unit size | Floor space | Capacity | What it typically holds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5×5 | 25 sq ft | 200 cu ft | About 10 large boxes, or a twin mattress, a small dresser and a bicycle — a closet’s worth |
| 5×10 | 50 sq ft | 400 cu ft | About 20 large boxes plus two big furniture pieces — a studio’s worth |
| 5×15 | 75 sq ft | 600 cu ft | About 30 large boxes plus a full bedroom set |
| 10×10 | 100 sq ft | 800 cu ft | About 40 large boxes plus two bedrooms’ furniture |
| 10×15 | 150 sq ft | 1,200 cu ft | About 60 large boxes — a two-bedroom home |
| 10×20 | 200 sq ft | 1,600 cu ft | About 80 large boxes — a three-bedroom house, or one car |
Dimensions and capacities as published in storage operators’ own size guides; ceilings are typically 8 feet.
NYC Apartments Are Smaller — Size Down Accordingly
National size guides assume American homes: 908 square feet on average, usually with a garage and an attic feeding the storage pile. New York apartments average roughly 200 square feet less, and the right unit shrinks with them. The average NYC studio is 487 square feet; a one-bedroom, 697; a two-bedroom, 963; a three-bedroom, 1,228. Set those against the table above and the pattern holds: a New York household usually needs one unit size smaller than a national chart recommends for the same bedroom count — a studio into a 5×5 or 5×10, a one-bedroom into a 5×10, a two-bedroom into a 5×15 or 10×10.
Two local wrinkles are worth money. The most-rented unit size in New York is the 5×5 — this city stores overflow, not households. And New York facilities commonly list reduced-height units: the same footprint under a lower ceiling at a lower monthly rate. If your list is boxes rather than wardrobes, a reduced-height 5×10 can beat a full-height 5×5 on both space and price.
How to Estimate the Size You Need in Four Steps
1List everything
Walk the apartment with your phone and list what is going in: furniture by piece, everything else in box counts. The list is the estimate — every other method is a guess wearing math.
2Count in boxes
Operators size their own units in large boxes: about 10 fill a 5×5, 20 a 5×10, 40 a 10×10, 80 a 10×20. Count your packed boxes against that ladder — our guide to labeling moving boxes makes the count reusable on delivery day.
3Add the furniture
Furniture eats space in awkward footprints, not neat stacks. Count each large piece — sofa, mattress set, dresser, table — as displacing two to four boxes’ worth of room, then round up, not down.
4Use the truck as a ruler
A 10-foot rental truck holds 402 cubic feet — loaded full, it fills a 5×10 with room to spare. A 15-footer (764 cu ft) maps to a 10×10, a 20-footer (1,016 cu ft) to a 10×15, a 26-footer (1,682 cu ft) overfills a 10×20. The truck runs about one size larger than the unit you need.
Six Sizing Mistakes That Cost Real Money
Paying for air
The classic mistake is renting a bedroom’s worth of space for a closet’s worth of things. Every unused square foot bills monthly, and in New York the jump from a 5×5 to a 10×10 takes the average bill from under $90 to $271 a month.
Stacking to the ceiling
A unit that is too small forces floor-to-ceiling stacking. That is how box towers crush, sofa legs snap, and upholstery spends a season with no air around it.
Forgetting the third dimension
Footprints get all the attention, but the 8-foot ceiling is where a small unit earns its keep: mattresses on edge, sofas on end, boxes in stacks of four. In NYC, ask about reduced-height units too — lower ceiling, lower rate.
Losing the walkway
Pack a unit solid and reaching anything at the back means unloading everything in front of it. A one-box-wide aisle costs about a tenth of the space and saves the whole afternoon.
Sizing by bedroom count
National charts map bedrooms to units for 908-square-foot homes. A New York two-bedroom at 963 square feet holds a lot less than a suburban one — size from your inventory list, not the floor-plan label.
Ignoring the visit schedule
Weekly access needs loose packing and an aisle — go one size up. No access until move-in day? Then a unit may be the wrong product entirely; sealed mover’s storage is built for exactly that.
Storing Between Moves? There’s No Size to Pick
A whole category of storage removes the sizing decision. When belongings are stored between two addresses — the old lease ends before the new one starts, a closing slips, a renovation runs long — a full-service moving company loads them once, holds them in its own warehouse, and delivers them when the new place is ready. The crew inventories what you actually own, measures it in cubic feet, and that measurement is the price. A guessed-at unit standing two-thirds empty stops being a possibility, because there is no unit.
That model is how Big Apple Moving has stored New Yorkers’ belongings since 1979: climate control as standard, furniture padded and sealed on load day, the building’s certificate of insurance handled before delivery. The trade-off is honest — sealed storage is not for things you need weekly. For a gap measured in days to weeks, see short-term storage; for open-ended stays, long-term storage; for the complete pick-up-and-return service, full-service storage. Comparing product types first? Start with the types of storage solutions.
Will It Fit? Common Items and Their Units
A queen mattress set
A 5×10 is the honest minimum — the mattress rides on edge along the 10-foot wall with the box spring beside it. A 5×5 technically takes a queen alone, but nothing else fits after it.
A sofa
A loveseat fits a 5×5 standing on end; a three-seater needs a 5×10; a sectional is a 10×10 job. Wrap the arms — upholstery corners take the worst of a tight unit.
A dresser and 20 boxes
The classic studio clear-out is a 5×10: dresser as the stack base, boxes in rows of four, aisle down the middle.
A bicycle and season gear
Skis, the AC unit, holiday boxes and the bike hang together in a 5×5 — the unit size most of New York actually rents.
A dining table for six
Legs off and blanket-wrapped, tabletop on edge: 5×10. Legs on, it commandeers the middle of a 10×10.
Washer, dryer and appliances
Full-size appliances travel with two-bedroom contents into a 10×15 — doors propped open against mildew, and never stacked under boxes.
Storage Unit Sizes — Frequently Asked Questions
What size storage unit do I need for a one-bedroom apartment?
In New York, usually a 5×10 — 50 square feet and 400 cubic feet, enough for about 20 large boxes plus a couch, a mattress set and a dresser. National guides often say 5×15 or 10×10, but they assume a 900-square-foot home; the average NYC one-bedroom is 697 square feet with no garage feeding the pile. If everything you own is going in — not just the overflow — size up to a 5×15.
How big is a 10×10 storage unit?
100 square feet of floor and, under the standard 8-foot ceiling, 800 cubic feet of capacity — about half a one-car garage. Operators rate it at roughly 40 large boxes plus two bedrooms’ furniture. In New York it is often the largest unit a household ever needs: the average two-bedroom apartment here is 963 square feet, and its contents fit with an aisle to spare.
How big is a 5×10 storage unit?
A strip 5 feet wide and 10 feet deep — 50 square feet, 400 cubic feet under an 8-foot ceiling, about the size of a large walk-in closet. It takes around 20 large boxes plus two big furniture pieces, or a queen mattress set, a dresser and a TV. It is the workhorse size for New York studios and one-bedrooms.
What can fit in a 5×5 storage unit?
A 5×5 is 25 square feet and 200 cubic feet — a large closet. It holds about 10 large boxes, or a twin mattress, a small dresser, a bicycle, ski gear and a few suitcases. It is also the most-rented unit size in New York City, which says something about how this city stores: overflow, not whole households.
What size storage unit fits a studio apartment?
A 5×10 takes a full NYC studio — the average studio here measures 487 square feet, and its furniture plus 15 to 20 boxes fit inside 400 cubic feet. If you are clearing seasonal gear and a few boxes rather than emptying the apartment, a 5×5 does the job at roughly half the monthly rate.
What is the smallest storage unit you can rent?
Lockers. Below the 5×5, many facilities rent reduced-height lockers from about 4 square feet — a pantry-sized box for documents, a seasonal wardrobe or a few cartons. New York facilities in particular list reduced-height units at lower prices than full-height ones on the same footprint, so ask about height, not just floor size.
Is it better to rent a unit that’s too big or too small?
Neither mistake is free. Too big and you pay monthly for air — in New York the step between common sizes runs well over $100 a month. Too small and you stack to the ceiling, which is how boxes crush and furniture scars, and you lose the walkway, so reaching anything means unloading. Inventory first, then rent what the list needs with one box-row of slack.
Do I need to pick a unit size if movers store my things between apartments?
No. When storage is part of the move — loaded at the old address, held, delivered to the new one — a full-service mover measures the cubic feet of your actual inventory, and that measurement is the price. Nobody rounds you up to the next unit. Big Apple Moving has run storage this way since 1979: one written estimate covering the move out, the climate-controlled stay and the move in.
Moving from Europe to Brooklyn
If you are moving from Europe to Brooklyn you are making a great decision. You will find yourself if one of the fastest developing New York boroughs. There are plenty of job opportunities. There is also plenty of excitement and the nightlife is incredible. Moving specialists in Brooklyn will help you move and after that, you can settle down and start your new life in the Big Apple. We will tell you about the benefits of moving from Europe to Brooklyn and why it is a great idea. We will also give you some information about life in Brooklyn. After you read this you will experience less of a culture shock. You will know what to expect after moving from Europe to Brooklyn. Continue reading “Moving from Europe to Brooklyn”
Tips for Finding Affordable Storage Units
If you are relocating to New York City, it is imperative that you arrange for the transportation of all your personal belongings. Prior to settling down, you will need to secure a new residence, which can be a time-consuming endeavor in the bustling metropolis.
However, this should not deter you from proceeding with your move. Your possessions can be transported ahead of your arrival, and a storage unit can be utilized to accommodate them until you are ready to receive them.
You can safely leave your belongings in your storage unit and go about finishing the rest of the tasks from your moving list. Moves can be expensive so a good idea would be to consider storage solutions in NYC because this is a sure way to save some money. We are going to give you some tips on how to find affordable storage units in NYC.
How to Find Affordable Storage Units
When you are choosing moving and storage company, you will want to find affordable ones and save some dollars. We will give you some tips on just how to find them. You will also find out how to find the best deals when choosing your storage unit.
Choose the Appropriate Size
Select the appropriate size for your storage unit. Storage units are available in varying sizes, ranging from smaller dimensions such as 5′ x 5′ to larger spaces like 10′ x 30′. Certain units may have unique measurements, such as 10′ x 14′, 5′ x 7′, and 5′ x 12′.
It is common for individuals to err in their selection of storage dimensions, resulting in unnecessary expenses due to the combination of an excessively large unit and poor packing practices. Therefore, it is imperative to exercise prudence in both the selection and packing of your storage unit.
Choose the Right Location
Undoubtedly, a superior location commands a higher price. Location plays a pivotal role in numerous scenarios, including storage units. Typically, storage units situated in the suburbs along a rural route are more reasonably priced than those located in the city center. This principle also applies to the units within the storage facility.
Affordable units are not among the first ones on the 1st floor. You will find these affordable storage units on the third floor way back. They might be less convenient but this makes them cheaper.
Buy the Insurance Yourself
It may not be common knowledge, but obtaining rental insurance is a prerequisite for renting a storage unit. Typically, storage companies will present insurance policies for purchase, however, this may not be the most cost-effective option. In the event that you are seeking to economize, it is advisable to explore alternative insurance options.
Inquire with your personal insurance provider and conduct research to identify more affordable self-storage coverage prior to finalizing your rental agreement. Additionally, when selecting from the array of economical moving companies in New York, exercise the same level of discernment in selecting your insurance coverage.
Make Sure Your Rate Will Not Increase
Occasionally, the rental fee for a storage unit may not be fixed. Certain storage companies may raise the rate at some point. It is advisable to steer clear of such companies as this may result in unexpected financial burden. Prior to signing the rental agreement, it is recommended to inquire about the possibility of a rate increase.
Additionally, researching online reviews from other clients who have dealt with the moving company may provide valuable insight.
Always Look For Perks
There are some features that storage units have, and that will cost you extra money. For example, there are climate control, 24-hour surveillance, gate access, indoor rather than an outdoor unit. If you don’t need any of these features look for and only check storage units that do not have them.
Why would you pay for something you don’t need? On the other side, there are perks you should definitely use. If your storage company offers a free use of a rental truck when you move in, don’t think twice about using it. You can save between 30 and 70 dollars with this perk.
More Ways to Get Deals on Storage Units
You could buy your own lock. You will not save loads of money if you do this, but you will save some. Just be sure to buy a good lock of high quality, so that you can secure your belongings and use it later as well. Don’t fall into the trap of lock or renting companies that will want to sell you really expensive ones.
Pay Up Front for Your Storage Unit
If you are aware of the precise duration for which you require storage, it is advisable to make an upfront payment. This is a prudent approach as most storage companies offer discounts for such payments. Nonetheless, it is imperative to ensure that you retain the flexibility to extend your rental period in case of unforeseen circumstances.
You never know what might change in the circumstances of your move, or in your plans. So, you should always have a backup plan. If you know you will be away for a long time then you should choose a long-term storage rental.
You can sign a contract for a year. However, check the terms and conditions. If you violate the contract before the renting period expires you might pay some fines.
Don’t Get a Storage Unit With a Drive-Up Access
If you have some friends who are ready to help you get your belongings into a storage unit, you don’t need a unit with a drive-up access. The units that don’t own a drive -up are the more affordable storage units. There is another perk that you get if you don’t choose a drive-up unit.
These units have an extra layer of protection. So you will have extra security for a lower price. How great is that?
So here are some great tips on how to find affordable storage units. You also know how to get good deals when renting your storage unit. It is all about planning and making smart choices. Pay attention to
- the right size,
- location and
- where you buy your insurance and storage coverage.
- Also, don’t forget to ask about discounts and perks. You might get some good deals if you just ask.
New movers in NY – How to check their reliability?
Not every negative experience has to necessarily be a scam. It could simply be unpleasant in any way – poor communication, tardiness, quality of service, etc. The prejudice is that this usually happens with new movers in NY. However, in some cases, it’s not unpleasantry but actual deception, regardless of whether you are moving to New York, or within it. You may be deceived by the price, for instance. You’d agree upon one price and during the moving day, the price would change, leaving you cornered and in despair. There are also scenarios where the movers would keep your belongings hostage until they received a better price from you. Continue reading “New movers in NY – How to check their reliability?”
A guide to renting an apartment in Manhattan
Honestly, renting an apartment in Manhattan is some heavy duty business. I mean I found it extremely difficult, but that might be a problem with me and not with the process. I am the worst kind of person to look for an apartment for renting – I’m an immensely picky person with a low budget. Just tried to do what we all lean towards – getting the best possible deal for the money I’ve got. This goes especially if you’re moving to Manhattan as a single parent. Continue reading “A guide to renting an apartment in Manhattan”
