How do I know whether I need a 20-foot or a 40-foot container?

Start with what you are storing. A 20ft container (33.1 m³, about a one-car garage) fits the contents of a two to three bedroom home, small business stock or vehicle parts. A 40ft container (almost 70 m³) fits a full household move, a large trade operation, commercial stock, or one or two cars in a car container.

A quick way to check: list your big items (beds, couches, whitegoods, machinery, pallets), then count your boxes. If it would fill a single garage to the roof, a 20ft is your size. If it would fill a double garage, look at a 40ft.

Price is worth a look too. A 20ft costs $299 a month and a 40ft costs $580. Two 20ft containers would cost $598, so if you need double the space, one 40ft is slightly cheaper and keeps everything behind one set of doors. On the other hand, if your gear fits in a 20ft, don't pay for a 40ft.

We are frank about this. If a smaller container will do the job, we will tell you, even if it earns us less. Picking the wrong size is a common worry, and a two-minute phone call fixes it.

We have fewer 40ft containers than 20ft ones, so check the booking page for what is free. Call Sunshine Self Storage in Albion on 03 9010 6147.