Most Perth households need a Medium 16ft container: it holds the contents of a typical 2–3 bedroom home in 27.05 m³ of space. A Small 10ft (16.56 m³) suits apartments and single rooms, and a Large 19ft (32.57 m³) suits 3–4 bedroom homes or moving house with bulky furniture. When in doubt, size up — running out of room mid-load costs far more than a little spare space.
The quick decision guide
- Small 10ft — 1-bedroom home or apartment, a room-by-room renovation, boxes and small furniture, uni move, or decluttering before a sale.
- Medium 16ft — a full 2–3 bedroom home, whole-home renovation storage, or business stock and overflow. The most popular size, and our lowest cost per cubic metre.
- Large 19ft — a 3–4 bedroom home, bulky items (piano, workshop gear, large lounges), or consolidating a house plus garage into one container.
What actually fits: a reality check
Volume numbers don’t mean much until you picture them. A queen mattress and base is roughly 1.5 m³. A three-seater sofa around 2–2.5 m³. A standard packed moving box about 0.1 m³ — so 30 boxes is only ~3 m³. What eats space isn’t boxes, it’s awkward furniture that can’t stack: recliners, glass cabinets, bikes, the barbecue. That’s why a 2.3 m tall container matters — height turns single-layer floor space into stackable volume.
A typical 16ft load
Fridge, washer, dryer, queen bed and two singles, three-seater and two-seater sofas, dining table and six chairs, four wardrobes’ worth of clothing in boxes, TV unit, desks, and 40–60 boxes — with room to strap it all to the internal tie rails so nothing shifts in transit.
Why one bigger container beats several small modules
Some providers only offer one small module size (around 8 m³), so a family home needs three or four of them. That means multiple delivery fees, multiple locks, and your belongings split across boxes you can’t access in one place. One container means one delivery, one lock, one monthly line item — and typically a lower cost per cubic metre.
Sizing tips before you book
- Use the storage space calculator — it converts a room list into a container recommendation in under a minute.
- Walk your garage and outdoor area, not just the house. Garages are where estimates go wrong.
- If you’re between sizes, take the bigger one. The monthly difference is small against the cost of a second container or a second trip.
- Storing for a renovation? Think in phases — a Small 10ft swapped room by room can beat one big container if only part of the house is being worked on.
Still not sure what size is right for you? Explore our 10ft, 16ft and 19th storage container sizes to find the best option for your move, renovation or storage needs. Once you’ve picked your size then get a quote or call our friendly team on 1300 914 706 to make a booking.
FAQs
What size storage container do I need for a 3-bedroom house?
Usually a Medium 16ft container (27.05 m³). If you have a full garage, large outdoor setting or bulky furniture, step up to the Large 19ft (32.57 m³).
How many moving boxes fit in a 10ft container?
A Small 10ft holds roughly 150+ standard boxes if you stacked nothing else — but real loads mix furniture and boxes, which is why a 1-bedroom home is its practical limit.
Can I upgrade sizes if I run out of room?
Yes — talk to us and we’ll work out the fastest option, whether that’s a second container or a swap. It’s cheaper and easier if we get the size right upfront, which is what the calculator (and our phone team) is for.
Are Mobistorage containers taller than other providers’?
Our containers are 2.3 m tall internally. Some competitors’ modules are 2.0–2.2 m, which is why comparing by cubic metre, not floor area, gives you the true picture.
Still unsure? Use the storage space calculator, or call 1300 914 706 and describe what you’re storing — a local human will size it with you in two minutes.
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