If you plan to order a portable storage container to pack up your home, you’ll want to organize it well to get the most use out of it. Packing a portable storage unit isn’t as easy as it might sound if you want to take advantage of the entire space.

Reasons to Use a Portable Storage Container

So why use a portable storage container at all? It might not have been your first thought when packing up your house. Nevertheless, ordering one or more of these storage containers can be a lifesaver! Here are just a few of the many reasons why:

• Streamlined packing: Portable storage containers are especially helpful before a move. You can pack on your own time and avoid crowding your current home or garage with boxes in the meantime. 

• Hands-free storage and convenient transport: Once you finish packing, you can call SMARTBOX® to have your container picked up and transported to a storage facility or to your new home when you arrive.

• Safety and security: Portable storage units like ours at SMARTBOX are mold and mildew-resistant thanks to wooden interiors. They’re also strong and secured by an included lock and key for your peace of mind.

9 Packing Techniques

Packing your items correctly will ensure they arrive at the destination without damage and fit inside the portable storage container without wasting space. Some of the most crucial tips for packing a portable storage container include:

1. Consider all the fragile items you have. To prevent them from moving during transport, you’ll want to use bubble wrap and pack them tightly in boxes. 

2. Electronics should be wrapped in bubble wrap, while blankets are ideal for furniture and mirror corners. You can also use towels or clothing to pack between items and prevent scratches and dings.

3. To avoid wasted space, fill your suitcases, dressers, nightstands, and cabinet drawers with items. Wardrobes and desk drawers are ideal places to store glassware and other breakables. Secure the doors with moving straps to prevent them from opening along the way.

4. Secure your boxes by combining them with the furniture. For instance, boxes can be placed under tables and desks in the storage unit. Stack boxes of the same size on top, making the heaviest boxes the base. Distribute the weight evenly to make it more accessible for transport. Furniture and appliances should be placed throughout the storage unit for even distribution. Fill empty spaces with pillows, clothing, and other soft items that can help prevent shifting during the move.

5. Tear down any furniture that can come apart to take up less space, such as beds. 

6. Put soft items on top of boxes to take up space. They weigh less and won't break the boxes down.

7. Fill every empty space to keep things from shifting during transport.

8. Create a wall with mattresses and boxes to help keep everything in place.

9. Try to use the same size of boxes as much as possible to make stacking easier. 

Assessing Your Storage Needs

Figure out what you’re packing and what you’ll leave behind or get rid of. Now is a good time to declutter. Once you know how much stuff you have, you can calculate the needed storage space.

Our storage containers are eight feet deep, seven feet tall, and five feet wide. Each container holds up to 3,000 pounds of stuff. You can estimate that it will hold about 1-1/2 rooms of storage. Estimate how much storage you’ll need by measuring your furniture. Don’t forget that some items, like beds, can be dismantled to take up less room. You can also stack other items on top of or within each other, such as stacking chairs on a table or nestled inside each other. 

If you have questions about portable storage unit sizes, contact our team, who will help you determine your needs.

Gather Packing Supplies

Before figuring out how to pack a unit, gather everything you’ll need to make the job go more smoothly. That means boxes in various sizes, packing tape, bubble wrap, furniture blankets, and labels. You can purchase a packing kit from SMARTBOX with the supplies you need to pack up your home. 

You may want smaller boxes for heavier items like dishes and books, while larger boxes work well for lightweight items such as towels and blankets.

Pack From Back to Front

So, how do you pack a portable storage unit? Just like rearranging furniture in a room, it’s good to start in the back!

Put the items you need the least in first, such as a guest bedroom. As you work toward the front, you’ll put your most-used items in last. That way, you can unpack them first at your new location!

Some pro tips to consider include:

• Keep a box out of the storage unit with items you’ll need right away.

• Pack a few clothes, nightwear, towels, personal hygiene items, snacks, and other things you’ll need as soon as you arrive.

• Take this box with you or pack it in the storage unit last labeled well, so you’ll know what to grab upon arrival.

Know What Not to Pack

This is important—not everything should go into portable storage units! When thinking about how to pack a storage container, start with what you won’t pack. 

• Food: Don’t pack food items that will spoil or attract pests. You can pack canned goods or jars of food, but don’t pack loaves of bread or boxes of cereal. 

• Hazardous items: Don’t pack anything flammable, such as fireworks or propane. Don’t pack liquids, such as cleaning supplies. You also won’t want to pack any live plants or animals.

Packing to move can be complex and time-consuming. With portable storage containers, however, things can go much smoother and faster. Follow these tips to learn how to pack a storage unit that will protect your belongings until they arrive at your destination.

Contact SMARTBOX about our moving services and learn how we can help you with long distance moving!