How Tall-Ceiling Units Give You More Storage Space

Admin
August 27th, 2025

When you rent storage, square footage is only half the story. At 24/7 Storage – Big Rapids (18755 Northland Drive, Big Rapids, MI 49307), our wide & tall, oversized units unlock the rest of the room you’re paying for—the vertical space—so you can stack smarter, load faster, and fit more in the same footprint. Pair those tall ceilings with oversized doors and you get easier angles for sofas, wardrobes, stacked totes, and shop racks—plus way less “Tetris” at the door.

Our facility highlights “50% More Storage With Tall Ceilings and Oversized Doors for Easy Access,” so the same 5×10, 10×10, or 12×20 suddenly works like a bigger unit—without upgrading your size. And because we’re fenced, gated, well-lit, and recorded 24/7, with open-24-hours access, you can pack vertically and swing by whenever it fits your schedule. New renters also get First Month 50% Off + a Free High-Security Lock to make move-in even easier.

The Vertical Advantage (and Why Oversized Doors Matter)

Stack higher, not wider. Tall ceilings let you go 4–6 boxes high in stable stacks or use freestanding shelving to create “second-story” storage inside your unit.
Bring in bulky items upright. Extra-tall doors reduce awkward tilting and give you better clearance for large furniture, tall bookcases, tool cabinets, and stacked totes on dollies.
Keep an aisle and still fit more. Even with a clear center walkway, vertical stacks along the walls dramatically increase what a unit can hold—while keeping everything accessible.

Practical Stacking Layouts by Unit Size

Tip: Keep heavier, dense items (books, tools) low; lighter items (bedding, décor) up high. Use uniform, lidded totes where possible—they stack cleaner and safer.

5×10 (Great for apartments, seasonal swaps)

Goal: One wall of heavy bases + a light “upper deck”

Back wall: Low row of sturdy items (dresser, cedar chest) with totes/boxes stacked above.
Side wall: Narrow tower of wardrobe boxes (they’re ~10 cu ft each) with a lighter bin stack on top.
Front right/left: A slim rolling rack for grab-and-go items (seasonal gear, tools).
Maintain: A 18–24" aisle down one side so you can reach the back without unstacking everything.

What that looks like in practice

Base pieces (e.g., dresser ≈ 30 cu ft, cedar chest ≈ 15 cu ft)
Above: 3–5 uniform totes or wardrobe boxes (≈ 10 cu ft each) stacked safely thanks to tall ceilings.

10×10 (Most popular “full room” replacement)

Goal: Two vertical “zones” + center aisle

Left wall: Freestanding shelf unit (or two) with labeled totes. Shelf height = your secret weapon in tall units.
Right wall: Mattresses upright (king ≈ 70 cu ft, double ≈ 55, single ≈ 40) + headboards, mirrors (~10 cu ft) padded and vertical.
Back wall: Sturdy base (chest of drawers ≈ 30 cu ft) with box tower above; place fragile bins below shoulder height.
Center: Clear 24–30" aisle from door to back for easy access.

Upshot: The tall ceiling lets your shelf units and box towers do the work—your 10×10 behaves like “more than a 10×10” without the bigger rent.

12×20 (Small business, garage replacement, gear-heavy households)

Goal: Create a mini “warehouse” with fast access

Perimeter: Two or three freestanding shelving bays along the long walls.
Corners: “Bulk storage” stacks (bedding, décor totes) built tall in matching bins.
Mid-unit: Pallet or dolly parking for items you roll in/out frequently.
Door zone: Thanks to the oversized door, stage a tall item (armoire, stacked totes) just inside the entry without blocking the opening.

Pro move: Label every bin face that points to the aisle. With tall stacks, labels at multiple heights save time.

10×20, 10×30, 12×30, 12×45 (Bigger footprints, same vertical logic)

Zoned layout: Reserve one long wall for “deep storage” stacks (holiday, archive), the opposite wall for “active” shelves (tools, inventory), and keep a full-length center lane.
High/low rule: Heavy gear and dense bins form the base; light/soft goods make the top layers.
Door clearance: Oversized doors help you roll in multi-stack dollies and tall pieces upright—less turning, less scraping, faster move-ins.
Vehicle/large-item users: If you’re storing trailers or tall racks alongside totes, park the big item first, then fill vertical space around it with stackable bins.

Before/After Packing Plan

Before (standard approach):

Mixed box sizes stacked 2–3 high
Furniture spread across the floor to “protect it”
No shelves, no aisle—everything piles up at the front
Result: Wasted air up top, constant unstacking to reach the back

After (tall-ceiling approach at 24/7 Storage – Big Rapids):

Uniform totes/wardrobe boxes stacked 4–6 high on sturdy bases
Freestanding shelves along one wall for “active items”
Mattresses and mirrors upright at the side with padding
Clear 24–30" aisle from door to back wall
Outcome: Same 10×10 footprint, dramatically more usable capacity and faster retrieval

What Fits?

The Big Rapids site shares approximate volumes for common items—handy when planning tall stacks:

King bed: ~70 cu ft | Double: ~55 | Single: ~40 | Bunk set: ~70
Dresser: ~30 cu ft | Cedar chest: ~15 | Wardrobe box: ~10 | Mirror: ~10

Use these to estimate stack “layers.” For example, a base of one dresser (~30) + two cedar chests (~30) roughly equals three wardrobe boxes on top (~30) in volume—now add vertical layers until you hit safe stacking height.

Fast, Flexible Move-In

First Month 50% Off + Free High-Security Lock with rental
Rent & pay online or use the on-site rental & payment kiosk
Access 24/7/365—perfect for late-night moves or early-morning pickups
No long-term contracts—scale your space up or down as needs change
Fenced, gated, well-lit, video recording for peace of mind

Ready to Stack Smarter?

Turn vertical space into real capacity and make your unit work like a bigger one—without the bigger bill. Prefer to talk it through? Contact Us or visit the on-site kiosk between 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM to get set up in minutes.