How to Pack and Ship Framed Artwork
We’ve already discussed how to pack canvas prints for shipping, but when it comes to packing framed pieces, it’s a totally different ballgame. To make sure your framed artwork arrives at its destination totally intact, follow four simple steps — which I'll "unpack" below.
Packing and Shipping Framed Pictures
Step 1: Wrap the Piece in Acid-Free Paper First
If you’re an artist shipping your piece to a buyer, a good way to ensure your artwork stays intact is by first wrapping it in acid-free paper which is the same material used in archival documents. It will protect the painting from being penetrated by materials that could potentially damage or leave an imprint on the piece.
Step 2: Tightly Wrap with Cling Film
A common way framed art gets damaged during shipment is when the frame detaches from the piece, breaking in the process. You can help prevent this separation by tightly wrapping the artwork with cling film — like plastic wrap but stickier. Once you have the piece framed and glazed per your specifications, start from the back and wrap the cling film around several times to be sure it’s extra secure.
Starting from the back of the piece ensures that there won’t be messy diagonal sections of cling film blocking the front, or visual focus, of your piece. For good measure, hold the cling film in place with some packing tape along the seams.
Step 3: Use Edge Guards and Corner Protectors
If you ship a lot of framed artwork, it’s always good to have a large supply of edge guards and corner protectors. Plastic or another hard material will safeguard the edges and corners of the frame; however, cardboard also works well for most pieces.
Simply tape the corner protectors on each corner of the piece, and tape the edge guards around the edges. (Since the tape should not be touching the artwork directly, any sort of packing tape will work.) These protective guards add extra shock absorption to prevent the glass and frame from cracking.
Step 4: Air Cushions and Insulating Foam
Speaking of shock absorption: Air cushions and insulating foam go a long way toward keeping your art safe during shipping. You can find both at most home supply centers and hardware stores. Purchase or cut insulating foam that’s slightly larger than the piece itself. Then construct an “art sandwich” using packing tape to bind the two slices of foam together, with your art tucked safely in the center.
Air pillows or air cushions can be placed around your art sandwich like side dishes, to keep the analogy going. You can start with a layer of air cushioning around the piece once it’s inside the shipping box. Now, instead of your art absorbing the damaging vibrations and sudden jolts of shipping, the air cushions will. They also keep the piece from slip-sliding around in the box, which can cause severe damage.
Step 5: Use a Durable Shipping Box
The final piece of the puzzle is a sturdy shipping box. If you have the funds and want to splurge on high-quality shipping boxes, MasterPak’s StrongBox brand boxes have three layers of foam and cardboard that are as strong as plywood. The multiple layers provide exceptional shock absorption. If this isn’t a feasible option for you, try finding cardboard shipping boxes that are exceptionally thick and well made. In addition to the insulating foam that you taped around the piece itself, you can also use more insulating foam to line the inside of the box for extra protection.
Step 6: Always Use “Fragile” Labels
In the movie A Christmas Story, Ralphie’s dad receives his “major award” in a big box marked “Fra-gee-lay.” Well, you need to do the same when shipping artwork. This may be a no-brainier for some people, but using “fragile” labels on your package might make the delivery companies think twice about how they are handling your piece. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, and some shipping companies simply ignore “fragile” labels and “handle with care” signs.
It’s worth a shot though. Placing a fragile label on the package doesn’t take much time and doing so means the shippers are at least somewhat aware that it should be handled delicately. If that label isn’t on the package, there’s no way for them to know it’s fragile, so you’re not even giving them a chance to handle the it differently than how they handle all the other packages.
Step 7: Use Only High-Quality Packing Tape
Using a high-quality packing tape is important. It will help the package stay together during the shipping process (which usually involves a lot of manhandling and tossing into trucks). You also want to be sure the piece itself is protected inside the package. Taping a wrapped painting to a sheet of foam board will provide extra support and protection—just don’t wrap the piece in plain bubble wrap!
Overkill? We Think Not
Pilling on the layers of defense may take a little more time, but not nearly as long as it took to create the art. In other words, it's time well spent.
Be sure to comment below if you have any additional tips for packing and shipping framed artwork. We'd love to hear from you.
Last Updated November 1, 2023