You need boxes. How many depends on what you're moving. Where you buy them determines whether it costs AED 200 or AED 900 for the same quantity. The gap is wider than most people realise because two of the best sources in Dubai don't advertise to consumers.
This is a real, line-item comparison of carton box prices across seven Dubai retailers. All prices current as of last month's visits to each store.
The Seven Sources Ranked by Price
1. Al Nakheel Packaging (Al Quoz, Industrial Area 3)
The cheapest legitimate source in Dubai for standard corrugated boxes. Minimum order: 20 boxes.
- 50L double-wall medium: AED 4.50 per box (20+ qty)
- 75L double-wall large: AED 6 per box (20+ qty)
- Wardrobe carton (with hanging bar): AED 22 per box
Cash only. You pick up. Located on 7A Street behind Al Quoz Mall area — a 5-minute drive from Sheikh Zayed Road's Mashreq Metro exit. Ask for Rajesh; he's run the counter for a decade.
2. PacTec Trading (Al Quoz, Industrial Area 4)
The second wholesaler nobody lists. Similar price structure, slightly better carton quality, accepts card.
- 50L double-wall: AED 5 per box (20+ qty)
- 65L large: AED 6.50
- Flat bundles of 25 assorted sizes: AED 110-135
They'll also sell bubble wrap by the metre (AED 2-3/m depending on width) and packing tape (AED 5-7 per roll — half the price of supermarkets).
3. Amazon.ae Bulk Packs
Convenient for delivery but not cheapest. A 10-pack of medium moving boxes runs AED 75-95. Per-box cost: AED 7.50-9.50. Worth it if you need same-day delivery and can't visit Al Quoz.
4. Carrefour and Lulu
Large supermarkets stock basic corrugated boxes in the storage/stationery aisle. Price range:
- Small (30L): AED 7-9
- Medium (50L): AED 9-12
- Large (70L): AED 14-18
Quality is inconsistent — single-wall, thinner than wholesale grade. Fine for lightweight items (clothes, linens), not for books or dishware.
5. Ace Hardware
Better quality than supermarkets. Double-wall construction.
- Medium moving box: AED 15-18
- Large moving box: AED 22-25
- Wardrobe carton: AED 45-55
Stores in Mirdif, Barsha, and Motor City. Also carry mattress covers (AED 22-30), bubble wrap rolls (AED 35-60), and stretch wrap.
6. IKEA
IKEA's SKRATTIG cardboard boxes are 73L and run AED 18-22 each. Good quality, standardised sizing — so they stack well. Pricey per unit but convenient for 5-10 box purchases while you're buying the rest of your flat's furniture anyway. Also consider FRAKTA bags (AED 5-8) for soft items.
7. Virgin Megastore / Office Supply Chains
Avoid unless absolutely necessary. Single boxes for AED 20-35 each — often sold alongside gift-wrapping supplies. The worst per-box economics in Dubai.
Typical Box Counts by Home Size
| Home | Small (30L) | Medium (50L) | Large (70L) | Wardrobe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 6-8 | 8-12 | 2-4 | 1-2 |
| 1-Bed | 8-12 | 15-20 | 4-6 | 2-3 |
| 2-Bed | 12-18 | 25-35 | 6-10 | 3-4 |
| 3-Bed Villa | 18-25 | 40-55 | 10-15 | 4-6 |
Run the math. A 2-bed apartment needs roughly 55 boxes including a few wardrobe cartons. At Al Nakheel: AED 295 total. At Ace Hardware: AED 1,080. At a supermarket: AED 650. Same job, wildly different cost.
The SAMA Advantage (When It Applies)
Full-service SAMA packing includes all boxes at no extra line item — we've negotiated volume contracts with our wholesale suppliers. If you're booking our packing services, skip the box run entirely.
If you're self-packing and hiring us for loading/transport only, we can bring boxes to your door on demand at AED 6-7 per standard box (including delivery) — cheaper than Amazon and nearly as cheap as Al Quoz wholesale if you factor in your own time and petrol.
Other Packing Materials Worth Sourcing at Al Quoz
- Bubble wrap — AED 2-3/m at wholesale (AED 8-12/m at supermarkets)
- Packing tape — AED 5-7/roll (AED 12-18/roll at supermarkets)
- Stretch wrap — AED 22-30/roll (AED 45-60/roll at supermarkets)
- Silica gel sachets — AED 0.30 each at Desert Chemicals in Al Quoz; essential for summer moves
- Mattress covers — AED 12-18 at wholesale (AED 25-35 at Ace)
Our full packing supplies guide covers the other materials you'll need. For heat-resistant materials specifically, see our summer packing kit article.
The Free Boxes Route
If you have flexibility, free boxes are abundant in Dubai. Supermarkets give away leftover produce boxes after 9pm. Dubizzle has daily listings of 'moving boxes free' from recent movers. Community Facebook groups for JVC, Marina, and Mirdif regularly post boxes after weekend moves.
Trade-offs: inconsistent sizes make stacking a nightmare, produce boxes sometimes smell faintly, and you spend 2-3 evenings collecting them. For a small move, it saves AED 200-400. For a big one, the time cost outweighs the savings.
For protection tips that make even cheap boxes perform well, our furniture protection guide walks through the packing method. Or get a SAMA packing quote and skip the whole box hunt. Our Al Quoz movers also deliver boxes same-day if you're pressed for time.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the cheapest place to buy moving boxes in Dubai?
Al Nakheel Packaging and PacTec Trading, both in Al Quoz Industrial Areas 3 and 4, sell standard 50L double-wall cartons at AED 4.50-5 per box for orders of 20+. That's less than half the price of supermarkets or Ace Hardware. Al Nakheel is cash-only; PacTec accepts cards.
How many boxes do I need for a 2-bed apartment move?
Typically 50-65 boxes for a 2-bed: around 12-18 small (books, kitchen items), 25-35 medium (linens, general), 6-10 large (lightweight bulky items), and 3-4 wardrobe cartons for hanging clothes. Families with kids add 10-15 boxes; minimalists subtract 10. A SAMA site survey gives an exact count based on your inventory.
Are IKEA boxes good for moving?
SKRATTIG cardboard boxes are sturdy and standardised — they stack well and can be reused for storage. At AED 18-22 each they're not the cheapest option, but if you're picking up IKEA furniture anyway, adding 10-15 boxes to the trip is efficient. For larger moves, Al Quoz wholesalers beat IKEA on per-box price by a factor of 3-4.
Does SAMA provide boxes as part of a move?
Full-service packing includes all boxes at no additional cost — factored into the single packing quote. For load-only moves where you pack yourself, we deliver boxes on request at AED 6-7 per standard box including delivery, cheaper than supermarkets or Amazon and comparable to wholesale with no visit required.
