Quick answer: For self storage in Business Bay, most studios fit in a 50 sq ft unit and most 1 bedroom flats fit in 80 sq ft. Boxes, suitcases and a single bed fit in 30 sq ft, and a 2 bedroom needs about 100 sq ft. At Expert Movers Packer, units start from AED 400 + VAT a month.
Almost every storage call we take from Business Bay starts with the same question: “Which size do I book?” Book too small and the crew is standing in the loading bay with a sofa that has nowhere to go. Book too big and you pay every month for empty air.
Why do Business Bay flats need their own storage size guide?
Most storage size charts online were written for American houses with garages and basements. A Business Bay flat is nothing like that.
Flats here are compact. As one example, the Regalia tower lists its studios at 436 sq ft and its 1 bedrooms at 687 to 805 sq ft (fäm Properties). Sizes vary from tower to tower, but the pattern holds across the district: one open living space, a small kitchen and one or two bedrooms.
Two things make the storage unit much smaller than the flat:
- Built-in wardrobes stay behind. Most Business Bay flats come with fitted wardrobes and a fitted kitchen. You store what is loose: the bed, the sofa, the dining set, appliances you bought yourself, and boxes.
- Storage is measured in floor space, but you use the height too. A unit is sold by its floor area in square feet. Boxes and dismantled furniture stack upwards, so a well packed 80 sq ft unit holds far more than the number suggests.
That is why a 700 sq ft flat does not need a 700 sq ft unit. In our experience, it usually needs about a tenth of that.
What storage size do I need for my home type?
Use this table as your starting point. Prices are monthly and exclude 5% VAT.
| Home type | What usually goes in | Unit size | Monthly price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boxes or a single room | Boxes, suitcases, files, a single bed, a bicycle | 30 sq ft | AED 400 + VAT |
| Studio | Bed and mattress, one wardrobe, small fridge, 10 to 15 boxes | 50 sq ft | AED 750 + VAT |
| 1 bedroom (1 BHK) | Sofa set, bed, dining table, appliances and boxes | 80 sq ft | AED 900 + VAT |
| 2 bedroom (2 BHK) | Two bedroom sets, living room and balcony furniture | 100 sq ft | AED 1,200 + VAT |
| 3 bedroom or penthouse | Several bedrooms of furniture, plus gym and outdoor items | 300 sq ft | AED 3,150 + VAT |
Every unit is at our Al Quoz facility, kept at 22 to 24°C all year, with 24/7 access using your own code. Wrapping and a photo inventory of every item are included. Pickup from your tower is priced by your load and shown in the same written quote. For the full list of options, including business warehousing, see our storage services in Dubai.
What fits in a 50 sq ft storage unit?
A 50 sq ft unit is the right size for most Business Bay studios. Here is what a typical studio load looks like:
- A double bed frame (dismantled) and its mattress
- One freestanding wardrobe or chest of drawers (dismantled)
- A two or three seater sofa
- A TV, TV unit and a floor lamp
- A small dining table with two chairs
- A small fridge or a washing machine (not usually both, plus everything else)
- 10 to 15 medium boxes of clothes, kitchenware and books
The trick is order. Mattress and sofa stand on their ends along the back wall, flat-packed furniture goes beside them, and boxes stack in front, heaviest at the bottom.
When should a studio go up to 80 sq ft?
Book the next size up if any of these apply:
- You have both a full-size fridge and a washing machine to store
- Your sofa is an L-shape or a corner sofa, which does not stand on end
- You have more than about 20 boxes, which is common if you work from home or kept a home office
- You are storing bulky hobby gear such as a bicycle, golf bag or treadmill
If you are unsure, send us photos before booking and we will tell you which size it is.
What fits in an 80 sq ft storage unit?
An 80 sq ft unit holds the loose contents of a typical 1 bedroom flat in Business Bay. A full 1 BHK load usually includes:
- A king or queen bed (dismantled), mattress and two bedside tables
- A three seater sofa plus an armchair or a two seater
- A dining table with four chairs
- A TV, TV unit, coffee table and rug (rolled)
- A full-size fridge and a washing machine
- A desk and office chair
- 20 to 30 boxes
Balcony chairs, a small bookshelf and a few suitcases usually still fit on top of that, as long as everything stacks.
When does a 1 bedroom need 100 sq ft?
Go up to 100 sq ft when the flat is bigger than the usual 1 BHK, for example:
- A 1 bedroom with a study or a maid’s room that has its own furniture
- A large balcony set (a full outdoor dining table or loungers)
- A big L-shaped sofa plus a separate sofa bed
- A home gym: a treadmill, bench or exercise bike
A 2 bedroom flat almost always needs 100 sq ft. A 3 bedroom or a penthouse moves into the 300 sq ft range.
How do I work out how much storage space I need?
You do not need a tape measure. Walk through the flat once with your phone and follow these steps:
- List the big items. Write down every bed, sofa, table, wardrobe and appliance that is leaving. Skip anything built in.
- Count your boxes. Estimate one box per kitchen cupboard and two or three per wardrobe of clothes. Add your books and shoes.
- Mark what comes apart. Beds, wardrobes, desks and dining tables usually dismantle. Flat pieces take a fraction of the space.
- Leave some breathing room. Add about 10 to 15% for a walkway and air around wooden furniture, so you can reach things later.
- Send it to us. Share the list or a short video on WhatsApp. We will match it to a unit size and give you one written price, usually within two hours.
If your list lands between two sizes, ask yourself one question: will you need to get anything out before the end? If yes, take the bigger unit. A little space in front of the boxes saves you emptying the unit to reach one item.
Which mistakes make people pay for a bigger unit?
The same four mistakes push people into a bigger, pricier unit. All four are easy to fix.
- Storing furniture whole. A bed frame standing assembled takes the floor space of a small sofa. Dismantled, it lies flat against a wall. Ask for dismantling in your quote and our crew will take it apart and bag the fittings.
- Storing things you will sell anyway. If the old mattress or the spare chairs are not coming to the next flat, sell or donate them before pickup day. Every item you keep costs you every month.
- Half-empty boxes. Boxes that are not full get crushed when stacked, so they cannot go high. Fill them, and use the same size wherever you can.
- Booking before sorting. People book a size from memory, then find three more cupboards of things. Sort first, then book.
A good rule: if you have not used it in the past year and you would not pay to move it, it should not be paying rent in a storage unit.
Moving into a smaller Business Bay flat?
This is one of the most common reasons people store in Business Bay. You move from a 2 bedroom to a 1 bedroom, or from a villa to a tower, and some furniture has no room in the new flat. Some of it is too good to sell.
Storage lets you decide later. Keep the dining set and the second bed in a unit for a few months, live in the new space, and then decide what comes back. If you are moving and storing at the same time, our apartment movers in Business Bay can split the load on the day: part to the new flat, part to the unit.
What happens on pickup day in a Business Bay tower?
Most Business Bay towers need a little paperwork before anything leaves the building. Plan for three things:
- A move-out permit from your building management, usually requested through the community app or the management office.
- A service elevator slot. Lifts are booked by the hour in many towers, so book early. Our guide explains how to book the service elevator step by step.
- The loading bay. Our truck needs a place to stand. We agree the bay and the arrival time with you before the day.
On the day, the crew wraps furniture in clean blankets, labels every box by room and photographs each item. You receive the photo inventory list after the items arrive at our Al Quoz facility. That list is your record of what is in the unit, and it also helps if you ever ask us to deliver just one item back.
Frequently asked questions
What size storage unit do I need for a studio in Dubai?
Most studios need a 50 sq ft unit. It holds a bed, a wardrobe, a sofa, a small fridge and 10 to 15 boxes. At Expert Movers Packer, it costs AED 750 + VAT a month.
Is a 50 sq ft unit enough for a 1 bedroom flat?
Usually not. A 1 bedroom has a bigger sofa, a full dining set and both a fridge and a washing machine, so it needs about 80 sq ft. A very lightly furnished 1 bedroom can sometimes fit in 50 sq ft, so send photos and we will check.
Do I pay for the size of my flat or the size of the unit?
You pay for the unit only. A 700 sq ft flat usually fits in an 80 sq ft unit because built-in wardrobes and kitchens stay behind and everything else stacks.
What is the minimum storage period?
One month. After that the contract rolls month to month, and you can end it with 7 days written notice.
Can I change to a bigger or smaller unit later?
Tell us when your needs change. We will check what is available and confirm the new monthly price in writing before anything moves.
How do I know the right size before I book?
Send photos or a short video of your things on WhatsApp. We will match them to a unit and send one written price for storage and pickup, usually within two hours.
Get the right size the first time
The right unit is the one that fits your things with a little room to reach them, and no more. If you want a second opinion before you book, send us your list.
See prices, pickup details and insurance for our storage units in Business Bay, or WhatsApp +971 50 231 2653 with photos for a fixed price. Every booking includes wrapping, a photo inventory and insurance cover up to AED 10,000.
Written by the storage team at Expert Movers Packer, moving Dubai since 2010. Updated November 2026.
