Safe Deposit Box Sizes: Dimensions, What Fits, and How to Choose (2026)
Updated: 5 hours ago
Quick answer: Most US bank safe deposit boxes are named by the size of their front opening in inches, height × width. The common sizes are 2×5, 3×5, 5×5, 3×10, 5×10 and 10×10. Almost all are about 21–24 inches deep. The 3×5 is the most common size. A 3×10 is the smallest common size that holds letter-size documents flat.
Most people rent the wrong size. Some pay every year for space they never use. Others fold their property deed into thirds to force it into a 3×5. This guide shows what each size holds, which sizes the major banks list, what MySafe USA boxes cost by size and term, and how to choose in about two minutes.
Key takeaways
Sizes are height × width. A "3×5" is 3 inches tall and 5 inches wide at the front. The box runs back about 22 inches.
The envelope test: if it fits in a standard No. 10 business envelope (4⅛ × 9½ in), it fits in a 3×5 box.
The flat-document rule: letter-size paper (8.5 × 11 in) only lies flat in boxes at least 10 inches wide: the 3×10, 5×10 and 10×10.
Sizes differ by branch, even within the same bank. Many branches have waitlists for the larger boxes.
Size isn't insurance. The FDIC does not insure what you keep in a safe deposit box, whatever its size.
How Safe Deposit Box Sizes Are Measured
A bank box is a long, narrow metal drawer. Its name gives the front opening: first the height, then the width. The depth is usually left out because it's close to standard, typically 21 to 24 inches.
That's why a 3×5 holds more than people expect. It's small at the front but almost two feet long. Multiply the three numbers to get the real capacity.
Size (in) | Capacity | Best for |
2 × 5 | 220 cu in | Passports, small jewelry |
3 × 5 | 330 cu in | Folded documents, rings, USB drive |
5 × 5 | 550 cu in | Jewelry boxes, coin rolls |
3 × 10 | 660 cu in | Letter-size papers lying flat |
5 × 10 | 1,100 cu in | Estate papers plus heirlooms |
10 × 10 | 2,200 cu in | Watch cases, bullion, keepsakes |
Capacity is calculated at 22 inches deep. Actual depth varies by manufacturer and branch.
What Actually Fits in Each Size
This is the table most size guides skip. It lists real items you might store, with approximate measurements, and the smallest bank box that holds each one without folding or forcing.
Item | Smallest box |
Passport book (3.5 × 4.9 in) | 2 × 5 |
Birth certificate or car title, tri-folded | 3 × 5 |
No. 10 envelope with papers | 3 × 5 |
Cash (a $100 bill is 6.1 × 2.6 in) | 3 × 5 |
1 oz gold coin | 2 × 5 |
Portable SSD or crypto wallet | 3 × 5 |
Letter-size deed or will, flat | 3 × 10 |
Legal-size papers, flat | 3 × 10 |
One watch in its box (3–4 in tall) | 5 × 5 |
Multi-watch case (5–8 in tall) | 10 × 10 |
Measure before you sign. Stack everything you plan to store on a table and measure its tallest point. Rent the box that clears that height by at least half an inch. That leaves room to grow and to slide items in and out without scraping.
Safe Deposit Box Sizes at Major US Banks
Banks don't publish one national size list. Sizes are set by the vault equipment each branch installed, often decades ago. Here's what's reported for the largest banks. Always confirm with your local branch.
Bank | Sizes reported (in) |
Bank of America | From 3×5; varies by branch |
Wells Fargo | Varies by location |
Chase | ❌ Closed to new renters |
U.S. Bank | 2×5, 4×5, 4×10, 5×10, 10×10 |
Citibank | 8 sizes, 2×5 to 10×10 |
TD Bank | 3×5, 5×5, 5×10 |
Truist | 3×5, 5×5, 5×10, 10×10 |
Regions | 3×5, 3×10, 10×10 |
PNC | 5×10, 10×10 |
Sources: First Quarter Finance bank size survey and Chase's nationwide phase-out statement, reported August 2025.
If you're a Chase customer, size isn't your problem. Getting a box at all is. Our guide to US banks abandoning safe deposit boxes in 2026 covers which banks still offer them.
How size affects bank prices: bigger boxes cost more at every bank. Annual bank fees run from roughly $15 for the smallest boxes to $350 for the largest (MyBankTracker, January 2026).
Why the Size You Want Is Often Unavailable
The bank can't add boxes to an existing vault. When every 5×10 is rented, you join a waitlist or settle for a smaller box. Fewer banks are installing new vaults, so this is getting worse. Chase has said it is phasing out all its remaining boxes across the country.
This is also why many people end up with a box that's too small. They take what's free on the day, fold their documents, and plan to upgrade later. At most banks, upgrading means giving up the old box and renting a new one when it becomes free. If your bank has already sent a closure notice, follow our step-by-step guide: your bank just closed your safe deposit box, here's what to do.
How MySafe USA Box Sizes Compare
A MySafe USA box works differently from a bank drawer. It's a wide, shallow tray that a robotic system brings to a private room for you. Every box is wider and longer than an A4 sheet of paper, so standard documents lie flat without folding. The three sizes differ only in depth. At checkout they're listed as Small, Medium and Extra Large.
Box | Depth | Bank equivalent |
Standard | 70 mm (2.75 in) | 3 × 10 |
Medium | 120 mm (4.7 in) | 5 × 10 |
Large | 170 mm (6.7 in) | 10 × 10 |
MySafe USA Prices by Size and Term
You can rent month to month or pay upfront for 3, 6 or 12 months. Longer terms lower the effective monthly price.
Term | Standard | Medium | Large |
Monthly | $64 | $94 | $124 |
3 months | $175 | $250 | $350 |
6 months | $325 | $450 | $650 |
12 months | $600 | $900 | $1,300 |
12 months, per month | $50 | $75 | ~$108 |
Prices without insurance cover, as listed in the MySafe USA booking store in October 2026.
Optional insurance cover, underwritten through Lloyd's of London, adds a fixed amount to the monthly price of any box size:
Cover per box | Monthly add-on |
$100,000 | +$25 |
$250,000 | +$35 |
$500,000 | +$50 |
$750,000 | +$85 |
$1,000,000 | +$100 |
For example, a Standard box with $250,000 cover costs $99 a month. Cover is also available on 3-, 6- and 12-month terms at the prices shown at checkout.
The tray shape changes how you use the box. Documents lie flat and you can see everything at once, without reaching into the back of a two-foot drawer. Access doesn't depend on bank hours or a staff member with a second key. MySafe USA offers biometric access during staffed hours, with after-hours access by prior arrangement.
Find a Vault Near You
How to Choose the Right Size in 2 Minutes
List what you'll store. Include what you'll add in the next five years, such as new wills, titles or inherited jewelry.
Separate flat items from bulky ones. Documents are flat. Watches, jewelry boxes and bullion are bulky.
Apply the flat-document rule. If you won't fold letter-size papers, you need a bank box at least 10 inches wide, or a MySafe tray.
Measure the tallest item. Add half an inch of clearance.
Choose the smallest box that passes steps 3 and 4. Don't pay for air.
Plan for access. A perfect size doesn't help if you can only open it on weekday banking hours.
Rule of thumb: documents only → 3×10 or MySafe Standard. Documents plus a few jewelry boxes → 5×10 or MySafe Medium. Watches, bullion or collections → 10×10 or MySafe Large.
A Note on Insurance
The size of the box doesn't change your protection. The FDIC insures deposits, not the contents of a safe deposit box (FDIC). Many homeowners or renters policies cap coverage for items away from home. Check your policy before you move anything valuable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the standard safe deposit box size?
The 3×5 is the most common size in US banks. It measures 3 inches high by 5 inches wide at the front and is usually 21–24 inches deep, about 330 cubic inches in total.
How big is the smallest safe deposit box?
The smallest boxes are usually 2×5 inches, and some banks offer 1×5. They hold passports, a few folded documents, and small jewelry.
What size safe deposit box do I need for documents?
If you'll fold them, a 3×5 works. If you want letter-size documents flat, choose a 3×10 or larger, or a MySafe USA Standard box.
Will an 8.5 × 11 document fit in a 3×5 safe deposit box?
Not flat. A 3×5 is only 5 inches wide, so letter-size paper must be folded into thirds. Folded, it fits easily.
Do all banks offer the same safe deposit box sizes?
No. Sizes depend on each branch's vault equipment, so two branches of the same bank can offer different sizes.
Is a bigger safe deposit box more expensive?
Yes. At banks, fees rise with size, from roughly $15 a year for the smallest boxes to about $350 for the largest. At MySafe USA, a box costs $64, $94 or $124 a month by size, or $600, $900 or $1,300 for 12 months.
Can I switch to a bigger box later?
At most banks, you give up your current box and rent a larger one if one is free. Popular sizes often have waitlists.
Are safe deposit box contents insured?
Not by the FDIC. Some homeowners policies offer limited coverage. MySafe USA boxes can be insured through Lloyd's of London for $100,000 to $1,000,000 per box.
Find the Right Box for What You Own
If your bank is out of the size you need, or has no boxes at all, you don't have to fold your deed to fit. Boxes start from $64 a month, with no waitlist.
Have questions about box sizes or insurance cover? Contact our team to see the boxes in person.
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