Storage units are useful in numerous situations, from moving to clearing out the clutter in your home. To keep your possessions safe in the unit, you'll need to properly stack the boxes to avoid crushing or toppling. Here's how to do this task without damaging your belongings.

How to Properly Stack Boxes in Your Storage Unit

1. Start With the Heaviest

The heaviest items should be on the floor, as they may crush the boxes beneath them or cause the stack to topple if they’re placed on top. These could be containers holding items like books, small appliances, or ceramic dishes. 

Heavy boxes will also create a stable foundation for anything stacked on top of them. The lightest or most fragile items—like small boxes of clothing or porcelain trinkets—should be on the tops of stacks, preventing them from getting squished by weight over time. 

2. Don’t Stack Too Tall

Keep your stacks as short as is possible and practical. While it’s tempting to pile boxes to the ceiling to maximize the available space, each one increases the risk of the stack toppling and puts more weight on the containers below it. 

High stacks also pose hazards to your safety, as the boxes could fall on you, or you could strain a muscle trying to put one on top. A safe range is no more than four or five medium boxes stacked on top of each other.

3. Leave Room for Navigating

You don’t want to box yourself in or have to rearrange your unit every time you need to retrieve an item. Line the walls with boxes, then create small aisles throughout the rest of the unit. Leave enough space between stacks that you can move through them with a box when you need to. When you’re done, you should be able to reach every box without rearranging or climbing over anything. 

If you need a dependable storage unit to keep your items safe, contact Paradise Self Storage in Kahului, HI. They serve the entire island of Maui with secure storage rentals at fair prices. Their units have individual alarms, 24/7 surveillance, and electronic gate access. Learn more about their units online, or call (808) 877-7783 to reserve yours.