Last updated October 2026 · By Legend Movers 4 You
A storage unit is a box with one door. How you load it decides whether you can find your things later, and whether they come out in the same shape they went in.
This guide walks through picking a size, getting ready, packing, the order to load, and keeping furniture safe in Florida heat and humidity. A printable checklist is at the end.
Need a hand? Call 407-440-1423. We answer 24/7.
Good to know: Legend Movers 4 You does not run its own storage facility. You rent the unit from the facility you choose, and our crew loads it, unloads it, or both.
Step 1: Choose the right unit size
A unit that’s too small forces you to stack too high. A unit that’s too big wastes money every month.
As a rough guide, a 10×10 unit holds most 1-bedroom apartments, and a 10×20 holds most 2- to 3-bedroom homes. A few boxes and small pieces fit in something smaller.
Before you sign:
- Make a quick list of your large items: beds, sofas, dressers, tables and appliances.
- Ask the facility to help you match that list to a size. They see full units every day.
- Leave room for an aisle. You’ll want to reach the back without unloading the front.
- Check the door. Measure the door opening if you have a tall headboard, armoire or sofa.
Step 2: Pick the facility and the unit type
If you can, choose a facility near where you’re moving next, so delivery day is a shorter drive.
Then think about climate. Florida is hot and humid most of the year. A climate-controlled unit is worth considering for:
- Wood furniture
- Mattresses and upholstered pieces
- Electronics
- Photos, papers and books
- Artwork and musical instruments
Drive-up units are easier to load. Indoor units often mean a longer walk and an elevator. Ask which you’re getting.
Also ask the facility:
- What are the gate hours and the office hours?
- What lock does the unit need, and do I bring my own?
- Can a moving truck reach my unit’s door?
- What items are not allowed in the unit?
Step 3: Get your things ready
- Clean and dry everything. Wipe down furniture and appliances. Anything that goes in damp can grow mildew in a closed unit.
- Empty and dry appliances. Defrost the refrigerator and freezer a day ahead and dry them fully. Leave the doors cracked in storage.
- Drain gas and oil from lawn mowers and other small engines, or leave them out.
- Take apart what comes apart. Bed frames and table legs take up less room flat. Put the screws in a labeled bag and tape it to the piece.
- Decide what not to store. Food, plants, anything that can leak or burn, and things you can’t replace (documents, jewelry, medication) should stay with you.
Step 4: Pack boxes that stack
Boxes that match in size stack straight and stay standing.
- Use sturdy boxes in a few standard sizes. Mixed sizes and soft bags make wobbly stacks.
- Put heavy things in small boxes. Books, tools and dishes go in small boxes. Pillows and linens can go in large ones.
- Fill every box to the top. A half-empty box crushes when another sits on it. Use paper or towels to fill the space.
- Tape the top and bottom.
- Label at least two sides with the room and a short list of what’s inside. Number the boxes and keep a matching list on your phone.
- Mark fragile boxes clearly so they don’t end up under something heavy.
If packing a whole house isn’t how you want to spend your week, our packing services can cover some rooms or all of them.
Step 5: Load in the right order
Think of the unit in three zones: the back, the sides and the front.
At the back: heavy and large items go in first, against the back wall. That means appliances, dressers, desks and solid furniture. Keep heavy pieces on the floor, never on top of boxes.
Along the side walls: tall items stand against the walls. Mattresses, box springs, sofas stood on end (if the frame allows it), headboards, table tops and long items like rugs. Standing them up saves floor space. Keep them upright and supported so they can’t tip.
Boxes in stacks: build box stacks with the heaviest boxes on the bottom and lighter ones higher up. Keep each stack straight and no higher than you can safely reach. Turn every box so its label faces out toward the aisle.
The aisle: leave a walkway from the door toward the back. Even a narrow one lets you reach a box in the middle without unloading half the unit.
At the front: load last what you’ll need first. Seasonal clothes, tools, holiday decorations, paperwork boxes and anything you might want before moving day.
A few more tips:
- Use the inside of furniture. Dresser drawers and wardrobes can hold light items.
- Don’t block the door with anything you can’t move by hand.
Step 6: Protect your furniture
Furniture takes the most damage in storage, mostly from scratches, crushing and moisture.
- Cover wood and upholstery with moving blankets or cotton sheets. Cloth lets air move.
- Don’t seal wood or fabric in plastic for long stays. It can trap moisture against the surface.
- Lift items off the floor. Set furniture and boxes on pallets or a layer of cardboard so they’re not sitting on bare concrete.
- Protect corners and glass. Wrap table tops, mirrors and framed art, and stand them on edge, never flat with weight on them.
- Don’t stack on soft pieces. Nothing heavy goes on a sofa or mattress.
Florida heat and humidity: what to plan for
Central Florida’s heat and humidity are hard on stored things. A few habits help:
- Choose climate control for wood, electronics, papers, photos and anything with glue or finishes.
- Keep everything dry going in. Don’t load on a wet day if you can avoid it, and dry anything that got rained on before it goes in.
- Add moisture absorbers (the hanging or tub kind sold at hardware stores) and replace them on your visits.
- Store papers and photos in sealed plastic bins rather than cardboard.
- Ask about storms. Atlantic hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30 (National Weather Service). Ask the facility how it handles storms, and keep valuables out of the unit.
- Visit now and then if you’re storing for months. Open the door, check for moisture and air things out.
Move-day checklist
Before you leave home
- Gate code, unit number and access hours written down
- Lock and key, or the lock combination
- Unit size confirmed with the facility
- Box list on your phone
- Blankets, tape and a marker on hand
- Pallets or cardboard for the floor
At the unit
- Lay down the pallets or cardboard first
- Heavy and large items to the back wall
- Tall items along the side walls
- Box stacks heavy-to-light, labels facing out
- Aisle left open from the door
- What you’ll need soon goes in last, at the front
Before you lock up
- Take a photo of the loaded unit
- Check nothing leans on the door
- Lock it, and test the lock
Printable storage unit checklist
Print this page or screenshot the list.
Planning
- ☐ Make a list of large items
- ☐ Pick a unit size with the facility
- ☐ Decide on climate control
- ☐ Ask about hours, gate code, lock and truck access
Packing
- ☐ Clean and dry furniture and appliances
- ☐ Defrost and dry the refrigerator
- ☐ Take apart beds and tables, bag the hardware
- ☐ Pack heavy items in small boxes
- ☐ Fill boxes to the top and tape them
- ☐ Label two sides and number each box
- ☐ Keep documents, jewelry and medication with you
Loading
- ☐ Pallets or cardboard on the floor
- ☐ Heavy and large items at the back
- ☐ Tall items along the walls
- ☐ Labels facing out
- ☐ Aisle to the back
- ☐ Need-soon items at the front
- ☐ Photo of the unit, then lock up
How Legend Movers 4 You can help
We load and unload the storage unit you rent. We don’t own or run a storage facility.
Our background-checked crews can:
- Move your things from home into your unit
- Bring them out of the unit to your new home when it’s ready
- Load or unload a rental truck you drive yourself
See our storage unit moves and loading and unloading help pages for how each one works.
Pricing: Local moves are billed by the hour. 2 movers are $165/hr, and larger crews get a custom quote. There’s a 3-hour minimum plus a truck & travel fee of $150 to $240, based on truck size and distance. Our rate is the same every day. You get a written estimate before you book.
Payment: card, cash or Zelle. We don’t take checks.
Florida Mover Reg. IM3232.
Moving out of an apartment before storage? Our Orlando apartment moving checklist covers elevators, move hours and lease-end day.
Storage unit loading FAQs
What should go in a storage unit first?
Heavy and large items go in first, against the back wall. That means appliances, dressers and solid furniture. Tall items like mattresses stand along the side walls, and the things you’ll need soonest go in last, near the door.
Should I leave an aisle in my storage unit?
Yes. A walkway from the door toward the back lets you reach boxes in the middle without unloading the front. Turn box labels to face the aisle so you can read them.
Do I need a climate-controlled unit in Florida?
It’s worth considering for wood furniture, mattresses, electronics, photos and papers, because Florida’s heat and humidity are hard on them. For tools, patio furniture or metal items, a standard unit is often fine.
Does Legend Movers 4 You have its own storage facility?
No. You rent a unit from the facility you choose, and our crew loads it, unloads it or both. We can move your things in now and bring them to your new home later.
How much does it cost to have movers load a storage unit?
Local moves are billed by the hour: $165/hr for 2 movers, with a custom quote for larger crews. There’s a 3-hour minimum plus a truck & travel fee of $150 to $240, based on truck size and distance. You get a written estimate before you book.
Get help loading your storage unit
Tell us where your things are going and when. Call 407-440-1423 (24/7) or request a free quote.
