A write request directed to a storage object is received at a distributed file storage service. Based on a variable stripe size selection policy, a size of a particular stripe of storage space to be allocated for the storage object is determined, which differs from the size of another stripe allocated earlier for the same storage object. Allocation of storage for the particular stripe at a particular storage device is requested, and if the allocation succeeds, the contents of the storage device are modified in accordance with the write request.