So you arrived with a suitcase in Portugal 3 months ago but you’ve since accumulated tons of stuff. You blame the local flea market for all those wonderful and cheap as chips vintage pieces. And now that your long stay visa has been approved and you can finally move to a bigger and cheaper apartment – where do you get moving boxes?
For moving boxes in Portugal you can contact local moving companies (transportadoras) or order online from cardboard specialists like caixasbaratas.pt. You can visit home improvement stores such as Leroy Merlin. If you don’t mind used boxes, search OLX.pt, Portugal’s second-hand online marketplace.
So that was the short answer. But you might decide you need to rent storage space as well – say, while you vacate your Algarve apartment for the summer and head north until rents drop again. So read on for all the details and cost-saving tips.
Where to get moving boxes in Portugal
- Moving companies
- Caixasbaratas.pt
- Home improvement stores
- OLX.pt
If you need sturdy new boxes in various sizes, the boxes supplied by larger moving companies will always offer a good range, plus you might also make use of their transport and storage services. If you only need a couple of boxes or in a very specific size, caixasbaratas.pt offers a huge selection.
If you need some boxes straight away, head over to your closest Leroy Merlin or Aki home improvement store (you can also order online at the Leroy Merlin website). Finally, if you’re not fussed about brand new boxes and you want to save money, search the second-hand listings in OLX.pt, Portugal’s answer to CraigsList.
Your Best Options for Moving Boxes in Portugal
1. Moving companies
LISBON: For a movers’ company that delivers moving boxes in the Lisbon area (including Cascais and Sintra) tecnomuda.pt is a good option. They offer boxes in double card at 2 Euros each, or whole moving kits (kits de embalagem) with up to 70 boxes. They charge a flat rate of 25 Euros for delivery payable on delivery.
ALGARVE: For a movers’ company that also supplies boxes across the Algarve region (as well as Alentejo and Setúbal), go to mudalgarve.pt. They offer single card boxes from 3 Euros each as well as large boxes – including one for 15 Euros designed for hanging clothes (called “closet” in the English version of the website). You can’t shop directly from the website and need to contact them by phone.
PORTO: For movers in the Porto region with a large range of moving boxes, including wooden boxes made to measure, oceancargo.pt is a good bet. Cardboard boxes start at 1.30 Euros. Again, you can’t shop from the website directly and have to call them. Their list of services includes rental of vehicles, which seems useful. They also have offices in Lisbon and Algarve.
2. Caixasbaratas.pt
Caixasbaratas.pt (translates literally to “cheap boxes”) could be the answer to all your cardboard box needs.
CaixasBaratas supply a vast range of boxes, from tiny to giant pallet-sized ones, and the site allows you to search according to exact dimensions. Prices for their “standard” sized boxes start at 3 Euros. It’s more expensive than some options we’ve seen so far, but delivery is only 9.99 Euros (free if you spend over 60 Euros). They deliveries throughout continental Portugal take 5 business days.
3. Home improvement stores (Leroy Merlin or Aki)
Portugal’s large home improvement stores, like Leroy Merlin and Aki, sell cardboard moving boxes off the shelf. You can also order online at leroymerlin.pt (Aki’s website redirects you to leroymerlin.pt because the two companies merged in early 2019).
At Leroy Merlin you can buy a 5-pack of moving boxes for about 9 Euros and a 10-pack for about 11 or 17 Euros (depending on promotions). Respectively, the size of these boxes in each pack are 60x30x30cm (23.5x12x12in), 40x30x28cm (15.5x12x11in) and 50x35x35cm (20x20x14in). They are not made out of double card, and some user reviews comment on their relative weakness.
4. OLX.pt
OLX.pt is Portugal’s largest second-hand online marketplace. Among its listing you can find everything from stamp collections to farms for sale. If you just need a few boxes and feel that used ones should be fine for what you have in mind, or if you’re looking for a good deal, you should definitely search through OLX’s listings.
OLX.pt operates much like Ebay, so that among the listings by professional sellers and companies, you will also find listings by private users. That’s where you’ll find the second-hand deals. OLX.pt is also a good place to start if you want to find ads for moving companies that sell boxes.
OLX.pt is also a good place to start if you want to find ads for moving companies that sell boxes.
Enter “caixas de cartão” in the search field on the home page and you will be redirected to the listings. You can also filter listings for your region in Portugal. For private listings, apply the “Particulares” filter at the top of the listings’ page.
Your Best Options for Rental Storage Space in Portugal
- Lisbon
- Algarve
- Porto
1. Renting storage space in Lisbon
For self-storage options in the Lisbon and Sintra area, tecnomuda.pt that we’ve covered above when talking about moving boxes also offers storage services. But dedicated self-storage businesses with such mspace.pt and bluespace.pt (see below) are more targeted at storage needs.
Mspace.pt offers storage space with capacities ranging from closet size to double garage size. You can rent their storage for periods of one week to long-term. Bluespace.pt offers rental storage space from 1.5 m2 (16 ft2) to 20 m2 (215 ft2).
Both websites offer an English version. Neither website specifies prices but Bluespace.pt was offering an attractive 30% discount at the time of writing.
2. Renting storage space in Algarve
Mudalgarve.pt that we’ve discussed above in relation to moving boxes, also offers a self-storage service. Guarda-Móveis Algarve e um serviço de armazenagem temporário em armazém ou Contentor em self storage.
They offer storage from 5 Euros per month in racked pallets or in boxes (lift vans) with a 8m3 (26.5 ft3) capacity for a minimum of 1 month and maximum 12 months. They are located in Moncarapacho in eastern Algarve, about 20 kms from Faro and 50 kms from Albureira.
Storage Algarve is about 10 kms from the centre of Algarve’s capital, Faro. They offer short and long-term self-storage options for anything from personal goods to vehicles. They offer a menu in English but the website does not specify prices. You will need to contact them for a quote.
3. Renting storage space in Porto
Oceancargo.pt that we have discussed above regarding moving boxes also offers rental storage services in boxes and large capacity wooden boxes called lift vans. (See image).
Then there’s 100 Arrumos, which offers metal box storage with capacities ranging from 2 m2 (21.5 ft2) to 60 m2 (646 ft2), from 12 Euros per month per m2. They are located only a few minutes from central Porto in the São Mamede de Infesta neighbourhood.
Related Questions
- Where do I sell second-hand household goods in Portugal?
OLX.pt is Portugal’s largest and most popular online second-hand marketplace. Anyone can place an ad for free, but you need a phone number which will appear on the listing. Professional sellers and private users alike use the platform to sell anything from used clothes to real estate.
- How do I dump large items legally in Portugal?
Each Portugal region has a number to call to arrange for a free pick up of a bulky refuse item such as a mattress or washing machine. Search in Google “lixo volumoso” and your council’s name to find the number to call.
- Lisbon: 808 20 32 32
- Algarve: 808 202 274
- Porto: 800 205 744
- Castelo Branco: 272340500
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