Two people can rent the same size unit and fit very different amounts into it. The difference is almost never the unit. It is how the boxes were chosen, how the furniture went in, and whether anyone thought about which things would need to come out first. If you are using a self storage unit for your belongings for a move, a renovation or a long stay abroad, a few hours of planning before the van arrives can save you a size of unit and a lot of frustration later.
This guide covers the packing itself: what to pack in, how to load the unit, and how to set it up so you can find things months from now.
Start With the Right Boxes
Supermarket boxes are free, but they come in every shape, often carry food smells, and lose strength quickly. In storage, boxes sit under weight for months, so a weak box at the bottom of a stack eventually crushes and tips everything above it.
Use two or three sizes only. Boxes of the same footprint stack into stable columns, which is how you use the full height of a unit. Small boxes for books and heavy items, medium boxes for kitchenware and general household things, and large boxes only for light, bulky items such as bedding and cushions.
Buy double-wall boxes for anything heavy. They cost a little more but hold their shape when stacked. Strong tape, bubble wrap, packing paper and stretch film are all worth having ready before you start, and you can get them from the StorageKeys shop rather than collecting them piecemeal.
Pack Boxes So They Stack
A box that is half empty will cave in when another box sits on top. A box that is overfilled bulges, which makes the stack lean. Aim for boxes that are full to the top and close flat.
Heavy at the bottom, light at the top. This applies inside each box and across the whole stack. Keep any single box to a weight you can lift comfortably at chest height, since you may need to reach it later from the top of a column.
Fill the gaps. Crumpled paper, towels or clothing stop items shifting in transit. Wrap glasses and plates individually and stand plates on their edge, the way a dish rack holds them, rather than flat. If you are packing mostly boxed household items, a smaller unit built around boxes may be all you need.
Label Every Box on Two Sides
Once a unit is packed, you will only ever see one or two faces of most boxes. A label on the top alone is useless when the box is in the middle of a stack.
Write the room, a short list of contents and a number on at least two sides. Mark anything fragile clearly, and note which way is up. Keep a matching list on your phone, so "box 23, kitchen, baking trays and mixer" tells you exactly where to dig without opening anything else.
A simple colour system helps if several people are packing. One colour of tape or marker per room means anyone can see at a glance where a box belongs when it comes back out.
Prepare Furniture to Save Space
Furniture takes up far more room assembled than flat. Bed frames, dining tables, desks and modular wardrobes should be taken apart where possible. Put the screws, bolts and small fittings for each piece into a labelled bag and tape it to the largest part of that piece, so nothing goes missing.
Wrap legs, corners and glass panels in bubble wrap or furniture blankets, and cover sofas and mattresses with breathable covers rather than sealed plastic. Wooden and upholstered pieces react to heat and humidity over time, which is where a unit with controlled temperature makes a real difference for longer stays.
Before anything heavy goes in, check it is clean and fully dry. Our guide on what can and can't be stored covers how to prepare fridges, washing machines and anything with an engine.
Would you rather not pack it all yourself? Our team can bring boxes, wrap furniture and load the unit on moving day. Ask about packing help on WhatsApp
Plan the Layout Before You Load
The order things go into the unit decides how easy it is to use later. Spend five minutes sketching it, even on the back of an envelope.
Large furniture goes in first, along the back and side walls. Stand sofas on end only if the manufacturer allows it, and store mattresses upright against a wall with a cover on.
Leave a walkway. A narrow aisle from the door to the back wall means you can reach any box without unloading the unit. It costs a little floor space and saves a lot of time.
Put what you will need first near the door. Seasonal clothes, documents, tools and anything you expect to collect in the next few months belong at the front. Things you are keeping for years go to the back.
Use the Full Height of the Unit
It is common to fill the floor and leave the top half of the unit empty. Stacking boxes in stable columns, with the heaviest at the base, can make a smaller unit work where a larger one seemed necessary. That is often the difference between sizes when you work out what size storage unit you actually need.
Dismantled table tops and headboards can stand on their edge against a wall. Chairs can stack seat to seat with a blanket between them, and the space inside wardrobes and drawers is ideal for linens, soft toys and light boxed items. Keep anything heavy below shoulder height so it is safe to lift down.
Protect Against Dust and Moisture
Raise boxes off the floor on pallets or a layer of flattened cardboard so they are not sitting directly on concrete. Leave a small gap between your boxes and the walls to let air move around them.
Throw a light dust sheet over the top of furniture and stacks, rather than wrapping everything tightly in plastic. Plastic traps moisture against wood and fabric, and in the UAE a sealed bag can hold enough humidity to mark furniture or encourage mould over a long summer.
On your first visit back, take a minute to check the bottom row of boxes for any sagging or damp corners. Catching a weak box early is much easier than restacking a whole column after it has collapsed.
Packing on Moving Day
If your move and your storage are happening on the same day, pack the storage items separately from what is going to the new home, and mark them clearly. Mixing the two is how a box of winter clothes ends up in the new apartment and the kettle ends up in the unit.
When the loading is done, take a quick photo of the unit from the door. It is the fastest way to remember where things went. At StorageKeys, you can order boxes and packing supplies ahead of moving day, and the team can recommend the right unit in Dubai or Sharjah based on what you are packing.
Boxes, a unit and the move in one booking
Order packing supplies, reserve the right unit in Dubai or Sharjah, and let the team handle the loading if you prefer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I use plastic boxes or cardboard boxes for storage?
Both work. Plastic tubs resist damp and stack well for long stays, while good double-wall cardboard boxes are cheaper and fine for most household items.
Can I stack boxes to the ceiling in a storage unit?
You can stack high if the boxes are strong and the same size, but keep heavy boxes low and leave space below any sprinklers or lights.
How do I stop furniture getting damaged in storage?
Dismantle what you can, wrap legs and corners, use breathable covers instead of sealed plastic, and keep pieces off bare concrete floors.
What should go at the front of a storage unit?
Anything you expect to need in the next few months, such as seasonal clothes, documents or tools. Long-term items go at the back.