The most frequent and easiest storage error in Dubai is the selection of the wrong unit size. Too small and your goods suffer due to overcrowding. If it’s too big, you are paying for the empty space every month!
A large majority of Dubai residents are estimators. They imagine what they have in their houses, and then choose a number, hoping it will be correct. It rarely is. There is a way of estimating volume and there are standard sizes of storage that match actual usage scenarios.
The purpose of this guide is to help you understand every standard self storage unit size found in the Dubai area, what fits in each, the prices of AED and a quick way to determine what you need before you book.
What Self Storage Unit Sizes Are Available in Dubai?
Dubai self storage facilities have 6 standard size options all measured in square feet and approximate metric size. Each category is assigned dimensions, a typical use case and current 2025 price range in the table below.
| Size Category | Dimensions (approx.) | Metric Equivalent | Typical Use | Price Range (AED/month) |
| Locker | 5 x 5 ft | 1.5 x 1.5 m | Seasonal items, documents, small boxes | AED 150 to 280 |
| Small | 5 x 10 ft | 1.5 x 3 m | Studio apartment contents, bicycle, small appliances | AED 280 to 450 |
| Medium | 10 x 10 ft | 3 x 3 m | 1-bedroom apartment, sofa, beds, boxes | AED 500 to 750 |
| Large | 10 x 15 ft | 3 x 4.5 m | 2-bedroom apartment, full household furniture | AED 750 to 1,100 |
| XL | 10 x 20 ft | 3 x 6 m | 3-bedroom apartment or business inventory | AED 1,100 to 1,600 |
| Commercial Bay | 300+ sq ft | Custom dimensions | Large business stock, equipment, archive volumes | AED 1,800 to 3,500+ |
Note: Climate controlled units in each category will be 20-35% higher in price compared to standard units. The prices are different depending on the location and facility.
How to Calculate the Right Storage Unit Size in Dubai
There are 2 ways to estimate the size of a unit.The size of a unit can be estimated by two methods which work well. Apply the room-count method to residential storage volume and the volume method to business inventories volume.
The Room-Count Method
Residents can do this as their fastest route. Count off the rooms that are being cleared and match to the guide below.
| Items Being Stored | Recommended Unit Size | Approx. Metric Size |
| Documents, boxes, seasonal clothing only | Locker (25 sq ft) | 1x1m to 1.5×1.5m |
| Studio apartment contents | Small (50 sq ft) | 1.5x3m |
| 1-bedroom apartment contents | Medium (100 sq ft) | 3x3m |
| 2-bedroom apartment contents | Large (150 sq ft) | 3×4.5m |
| 3-bedroom apartment or villa contents | XL (200 sq ft) | 3x6m |
| Full villa or large business inventory | Commercial Bay (300+ sq ft) | Custom |
The Volume Estimation Method
There are about 8 cubic feet of stacked goods per square foot of floor space. A medium 100 sq ft unit is just about 800 cubic feet of storage room, and will fit a furnished one bedroom unit to the shoulder.
When calculating the volume, list the largest items first: sofas, beds, wardrobes and appliances. Make estimates of cubic dimensions. For irregular shapes, boxes and bags, add 30%. Fill in the total on the unit size table above.
In Dubai, most of the places provide a free volume consultation either virtually or face to face. Apply it before it is too late!
Self Storage Unit Sizes by Use Case in Dubai
Locker Units: 25 sq ft (Approx. 1x1m to 1.5×1.5m)
A locker unit contains paperwork, files, small boxes, clothes for the seasons, and sports gear. Does not support furniture. The inside dimensions are approximately equal to a large wardrobe.
Locker units make sense for students clearing out their university units over the summer, professionals who need to archive specific categories of business documents and residents who are only clearing out one specific type of item.
Locker units are the lowest cost option available for safe storage in Dubai and cost between AED 150 and AED 280 a month.
Small Units: 50 sq ft (Approx. 1.5x3m)
packed efficiently, a 50 sq ft unit contains the entirety of a studio apartment. This includes one Bed, a little sofa, TV, kitchen appliances, wardrobe, and around 15 to 20 boxes of personal items.
Another option is to use this size when you need to carry your bike and have some things to store away while travelling for 2-6 months or when you are an “expat” while you are clearing a room full of your belongings.
Small units in Dubai start at AED 280 per month for standard storage up to AED 450 per month for climate controlled storage.
Small Units: 75 sq ft (Approx. 3x3m)
In Dubai, the most popular rental size is medium. It contains all the necessities of a furnished one bedroom apartment such as a double bed, sofa, dining table, refrigerator, washing machine, wardrobe and 25 to 35 boxes.
Medium units are used on a frequent basis by expat families on a regular basis between tenancies, homeowners during renovations and small businesses who are storing seasonal stock.
Average prices per month are from AED 500 – 750 for standard units and AED 650 – 950 for climate control. In Dubai, where the climate is so extreme, any unit with wood furniture, electronics or fabric goods should be in a climate controlled unit.
Large Units: 150 sq ft (Approx. 3×4.5m)
The large 150 sq ft storage unit contains all the furniture and contents of a fully furnished two bedroom apartment with 2 beds, full living room set, dining furniture, kitchen appliances, 2 wardrobes and 40-50 boxes of personal items.
This size is also good for small businesses storing product inventory, event companies for between-events storage needs or for families relocating within or out of Dubai that require 3-12 months storage.
The standard monthly rates are AED 750 to AED 1,100. The rates for climate-control are available from AED 950 to 1,400.
XL Units: 200 sq ft (Approx. 3x6m)
A 200 sq ft unit would accommodate a 3 bedroom apartment or a considerable amount of business inventory. This consists of three beds, a large sofa set, dining table, several wardrobes, large appliances as well as 50 to 70 boxes.
Families who are moving from a villa or a big apartment will be able to use this size. XL units are also rented by e-commerce sellers for seasonal inventories and contractors who store equipment between projects.
The XL unit pricing is between AED 1,100/month to AED 1,600/month for regular storage.
Commercial Bays: 300SqFt and above.
Dubai’s commercial storage bays are specially designed to cater to the needs of businesses. They have large inventories, heavy equipment, trade show displays, or several pallets of stock. Dimensions are customisable at most facilities.
Commercial bays are an alternative to renting a warehouse that businesses will choose as it is cost efficient. A 300 sq ft bay can be compared with Industrial Warehouse space that begins at AED 20,000 per year.
Some storage units in Dubai offer direct delivery to commercial units and will permit a number of employees to have access to the bay as part of one rental.
Self Storage Unit Sizes Dubai Prices
AEDs come in a variety of standard unit sizes and the pricing shown below is both standard and climate controlled. Storage prices are offered for storage space in mid zone locations in Dubai, typically areas like Al Quoz and Dubai Silicon Oasis.
| Unit Size | Standard Rate (AED/month) | Climate-Controlled (AED/month) | Annual Cost (Climate-Controlled) |
| Locker (25 sq ft) | AED 150 to 280 | AED 200 to 360 | AED 2,400 to 4,320 |
| Small (50 sq ft) | AED 280 to 450 | AED 380 to 580 | AED 4,560 to 6,960 |
| Medium (100 sq ft) | AED 500 to 750 | AED 650 to 950 | AED 7,800 to 11,400 |
| Large (150 sq ft) | AED 750 to 1,100 | AED 950 to 1,400 | AED 11,400 to 16,800 |
| XL (200 sq ft) | AED 1,100 to 1,600 | AED 1,400 to 2,050 | AED 16,800 to 24,600 |
| Commercial (300+ sq ft) | AED 1,800 to 3,500+ | AED 2,200 to 4,200+ | AED 26,400 to 50,400+ |
4 Sizing Mistakes Dubai Renters Make
The most common and expensive mistakes are avoided by understanding the standard unit sizes.
Paying by the price rather than by the volume.
When buying the lowest priced unit without checking what the unit’s specifications are, a second unit is rented. At all the facilities in Dubai, two small units cost more per square foot than a medium unit.
Forgetting to Account for Box Volume
Estimating furniture volume is simple. Box volume is not. A 1 bedroom unit produces 25-40 boxes and consumes 200-350 unit cubic ft. Consultants overestimate the size requirement by one category for renters who only consider the dimensions of the furniture and not the box.
Choosing Standard Storage for Heat-Sensitive Items
Dubai summer temperatures reach 45 degrees Celsius. A standard unit without climate control reaches similar temperatures internally. Electronics, solid wood furniture, leather goods, and documents placed in an unregulated unit experience measurable damage within 4 to 8 weeks during summer months.
Not Accounting for Access Frequency
A unit rented for items accessed weekly needs space to move around inside. A unit packed floor to ceiling for long-term storage with no access needed can fit more volume. Renters who plan frequent access and pack a unit to maximum capacity cannot retrieve items without unpacking everything.
Frequently Asked Questions About Self Storage Unit Sizes in Dubai
The smallest self storage unit size is a locker unit of about 25 square feet or about 1x1m to 1.5×1.5m in metric. Document and small boxes, seasonal clothing and sports equipment are stored in these units. Standard access for the month is AED 150.
A medium (100 sqft/3x3m) storage unit is required for a medium-sized 1 bedroom apartment in Dubai. This size will fit a double bed, sofa, dining furniture, refrigerator, washing machine, wardrobe, and 25 to 35 boxes of personal items. The monthly charge on a medium unit with climate control control varies between AED 650 to AED 950.
A 1x1m storage unit in Dubai can be used to store documents, archived files, 8 to 12 medium boxes, seasonal clothing or small sports equipment. Does not store items for furniture. This is the smallest unit category, and it is for renters that are removing a category of items from an apartment or room, rather than an entire apartment.
A medium 100 sq ft storage unit in Dubai costs between AED 500 and AED 750 per month for standard storage and AED 650 to AED 950 per month for climate-controlled storage. Prices vary by facility location, with units in Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park priced 15 to 20 percent lower than equivalent units in Jumeirah or Business Bay.
The medium unit size of 100 square feet (about 3x3m) is the most commonly rented size of storage units in Dubai. It is ideal for the most common need in Dubai: furnished one bedroom apartment between rentals. Medium units are the first port of call for expat families, homeowners in the process of renovating their homes and small businesses.
Yes. Here are the commercial bays offered by Dubai self storage facilities, ranging from 300 sqft at AED 1,800/month to AED 3,500/month, equivalent to AED 15,000 to 35,000 per year in cost savings over industrial warehouse rentals. Some facilities permit multiple employees to use the same bay for one rental, and also provide a direct delivery option to commercial units.