Episode Summary
Modern Storage® tackles a question every traveler and mover faces: are you an overpacker or an underpacker? This episode breaks down the habits, consequences, and mindsets behind how people pack, whether for a trip or for self storage. If you have ever stuffed a unit to the ceiling or shown up with half of what you needed, this one is for you.
Overpacking and underpacking are habits with real consequences for how you use storage space.
Understanding your packing style can help you make smarter decisions about what to store and how to organize it.
There is a middle ground between bringing too much and too little, and finding it saves time, money, and stress.
Everyone falls somewhere on the packing spectrum. Some people meticulously roll every item, label every box, and still somehow fill three times the space they planned for. Others throw a few essentials into a bag or a unit and call it done, leaving half the space unused. In this episode of Modern Storage® Unpacked, Modern Storage® dig into this personality-driven debate and connect it directly to how people approach renting and using self storage. The overpacker tendency shows up constantly in the self storage world. Customers arrive with far more than they anticipated, boxes stacked without a clear system, furniture pieces that were not measured, and seasonal items that seemed manageable at home but suddenly overwhelm a 10x10 unit. Modern Storage® likely explore how this habit, while sometimes coming from a place of preparedness, can lead to real problems like blocked access to items in the back of a unit, damaged belongings from poor stacking, and the need to upgrade to a larger unit mid-rental. On the other side, underpacking in a storage context often means renting more space than you need. A customer who is cautious or uncertain about how much they own might play it safe and rent a larger unit, only to find that their belongings fill a fraction of it. While having extra room is not the worst problem, it does mean paying for square footage that is not being used. Modern Storage® probably discuss how to right-size your storage rental from the start and what questions to ask yourself before signing a lease. This episode also likely touches on practical strategies for both types. Overpackers benefit from decluttering before they ever rent a unit, creating an inventory of what they plan to store, and using vertical space efficiently with shelving. Underpackers might be encouraged to think ahead about life changes, seasonal rotations, or business inventory that could grow over time. The self storage industry increasingly serves customers who are in transition, whether from a move, a downsizing, a business shift, or a renovation, and packing habits play a major role in how smoothly that transition goes. For self storage operators and facility managers, understanding customer packing behavior is also valuable. Move-in experiences, unit recommendations, and even the supplies sold at the front desk can all be tailored to help customers pack smarter. When customers use their units well, they are more satisfied, more likely to stay long-term, and less likely to need a frustrating unit swap. Modern Storage® brings that operator perspective alongside the everyday customer experience, which is part of what makes Modern Storage® Unpacked useful for both audiences. Ultimately, this episode is a lighthearted but genuinely useful conversation about a habit that affects everyone who has ever moved, stored, or traveled with more or less than they needed. Whether you see yourself in the overpacker or the underpacker, Modern Storage® give you something practical to take away and apply the next time you are standing in front of a storage unit trying to make it all fit.
Common questions about the topics covered in this episode.
Overpacking a storage unit creates several real problems beyond just a tight fit. Items stacked too high can topple and cause damage or injury, soft goods can get crushed, and furniture pushed together without padding often comes out scratched or warped. Practically speaking, a unit packed wall to wall with no aisle means you have to move everything just to get to one box, which defeats much of the purpose of having accessible storage.
A good rule of thumb is that after loading your unit, you should still have a narrow walking path to reach items stored at the back. If you cannot close the door without rearranging, you need a larger unit. If your belongings take up less than half the floor space and stack no higher than eye level, you are likely paying for more square footage than you need and could downsize to save money each month.
Yes, overpacking can create genuine safety risks. Heavy boxes stacked without stable support can collapse on people accessing the unit, and items wedged against a roll-up door can fall outward when the door opens. Facilities are not liable for how tenants load their units, so the responsibility to pack safely falls entirely on the renter.
The best time to address unit sizing is during the initial rental conversation, before a tenant loads anything. Ask about the volume and type of items they plan to store, and walk them through your available unit sizes using a square footage comparison they can visualize. If a tenant is already in the wrong unit, offer a transfer conversation early rather than waiting for a complaint, since proactive communication builds trust and reduces churn.
Businesses storing inventory benefit most from treating their storage unit like a small warehouse. Use uniform box sizes so items stack cleanly and stably, label every box on at least two sides, and leave a clear aisle down the center for easy access to any shelf or stack. Heavier items go on the floor, lighter items go on top, and your most frequently accessed inventory should always be closest to the door.
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