Tarkov Stash Upgrade – How To Increase Stash Size

Last Updated on November 5, 2024 by Samuel Franklin

Limited stash space is a common challenge for EFT players and in particular Standard Edition accounts with the smallest starting stash space. To help you maximise your storage this guide details how to increase stash size with the hideout, the best rigs for storage and other stash management tips.

Escape From Tarkov also offers a stash expansion purchase starting from $3 for between 2 and 28 additional lines of storage although I recommend if players want to spend money it is on a Tarkov edition upgrade instead.

Table of Contents:
– Tarkov Stash Space Overview
– Tarkov Stash Upgrade (Hideout, Account Edition & Purchase)
– Tarkov Best Initial Containers
– Tarkov Best Rigs For Storage
– Tarkov Best Backpacks For Storage

Tarkov Stash Space Overview

There are several ways to upgrade stash size in Tarkov:

• Upgrading your Escape From Tarkov game version to a higher tier game edition increases your starting stash size.
• Purchasing expansion stash space directly through the Tarkov website which is permanent and persists through game wipes.
• Constructing a Tarkov stash upgrade through the hideout which allows all players regardless of game version to achieve the same stash sizes when fully upgraded (level 4).
• Purchasing various containers from traders or the Flea Market to maximise stash size efficiency. The Lucky Scav Junk Box for example will occupy 16 slots in your stash but can store 196 slots of barter items.
• Using specific rigs to improve your storage space which like containers provide additional overall slots. This option is cheaper than containers but is less efficient so is useful early wipe in particular.
• Using specific backpacks to improve your storage space, similar to rigs this is a relatively cheap option although is the least efficient option to get a bigger stash.

Tarkov Stash Upgrade (Hideout, Account Edition & Purchase)

The free method to increase the number of total slots in your Tarkov stash is the hideout upgrade which allows players to progress from a starting 10×28 stash size to a 10×68 stash size for a massive 400 slot increase. By default Standard Edition accounts start at stash level 1 and your account edition changes the stash level players start with which unlocks the extra space significantly earlier and without the associated construction costs. Alternatively players can purchase additional stash lines for USD$3 each for a permanent increase.

The Tarkov stash size comparison chart below summarises the different stash levels, requirements, upgrade cost and respective edition:

Tarkov Best Initial Containers

Containers offer cost-effective storage expansion and are purchasable from traders or the Flea Market. They will generally be available earlier in your account progression and cheaper compared to hideout stash upgrades. As prices fluctuate over the course of a Tarkov wipe players will need to determine if the Flea Market cost is worth the convenience of extra stash space.

While there are many containers available in Escape From Tarkov these recommended containers below can store the core items (barter items, currency, ammo, medical items and magazines) without spending significant Roubles. These are my recommended containers from a price and efficiency perspective for players to consider as they progress:

Container	Stash Space Taken	Container Space Provided	Items Allowed	Available From
Dogtag case	1	100	Dogtags	Therapist Level 1 Jaeger Level 1 (barter)
Wallet	1	4	Money	Flea Market
Lucky Scav Junk Box	16	196	Barter Items	Therapist Level 1 Therapist Level 2 (barter) Lavatory Level 2
Ammunition Case	4	49	Ammunition	Mechanic Level 2 Mechanic Level 1 (barter) Jaeger Level 4 (barter)
Magazine Case	6	49	Magazines	Mechanic Level 3 Lavatory Level 2
Medicine Case	6	49	Medical	Therapist Level 2 (barter) Therapist Level 3

Once players have reached stash upgrade level 4 in the hideout and have Roubles to spare you can also consider the expensive quality of life containers like the THICC Item Case, THICC Weapon Case, Money Case, Grenade Case, Mr. Holodilnick thermal bag and Weapon Case. Players will also obtain some of these containers through high level quests that makes purchasing them before this point unnecessary.

Tarkov Best Rigs For Storage

Another option for Tarkov stash space optimisation is utilising rigs which is an effective choice on fresh accounts that may lack the funds for the other stash upgrade options currently. This method works as some rigs in the game have an efficiency score higher than 1 which means that they have more space inside than the stash space required. For example if a rig takes up 16 slots and has 18 slots of space it has an efficiency of 112.5% (18/16) and players are effectively gaining 2 extra storage slots.

While these gains to stash space are small it is relatively easy and cost effective as you can acquire them in raid or from Scav runs and either use in raid or sell them to traders once they are no longer needed. The downside of this method is that it can become difficult to locate specific items when you have many rigs in your stash full of random items.

The image below are my recommended unarmoured rigs to keep an eye out for during your raids as they are common and provide good efficiency:

The following are all unarmoured rigs that have an efficiency score above 1 in order of efficiency:

The following are all armoured rigs have an efficiency score above 1, generally players should use these in raids rather than as storage:

Tarkov Best Backpacks For Storage

Similar to rigs there are a number of backpacks with an efficiency score higher than 1 that can be used for additional storage space although the gains are smaller and these high efficiency backpacks are not as readily available:

Written by

Samuel Franklin

Samuel Franklin is the founder and lead editor of the Games Finder team and enjoys video games across all genres and platforms.

Sam (Seelyon) is a seasoned Escape From Tarkov player with over 1,000 raids across multiple Tarkov patches while accumulating thousands of player kills and maintaining a 50% survival rate who favours a calculated playstyle. During these wipes he has earned the coveted Kappa secure container, proving his determination in the unforgiving world of Tarkov. His passion for the punishing game goes beyond personal accomplishment and he is driven by a desire to guide new players on their own Escape From Tarkov journey one raid at a time.

Through countless firefights, strategic flanks and exhilarating boss encounters, he has accumulated a deep understanding of the game’s mechanics and nuances that allows him to offer valuable insights and strategies to those seeking to navigate the complexities of Tarkov.