To pack artwork for a move, start by identifying each piece’s material and condition. Then build protection in layers: a smooth, non-stick layer where needed, a rigid board over the face, cushioning, and a snug box. Nothing sticky or textured should touch a painted or paper surface, and pieces should travel upright and separated from each other.
The details change with the medium. A framed watercolor under glass, an unframed oil on canvas, and a charcoal drawing each need a slightly different approach, so this guide covers them separately. If a piece is valuable, fragile, or already damaged, the safest step is to ask a conservator or specialist before you pack it.
Assess Each Piece Before You Pack
A few minutes of inspection will tell you which packing method to use and whether someone else should pack the piece.
| What to check | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Medium (oil, acrylic, watercolor, print, photograph, pastel, charcoal) | Powdery and unfixed media cannot have anything touching the surface. Paint layers react to pressure and texture. |
| Framed or unframed | A sound frame protects the edges and holds wrapping away from the surface. An unframed canvas needs a way to keep the wrap off the paint. |
| Glazing type | Glass, acrylic, and coated or anti-reflective glass require different handling. |
| Size and weight | Large or heavy pieces may need two people, a custom box, or a crate. |
| Condition | Flaking paint, tears, loose frame corners, or cracked glass call for a conservator before the move. |
| Value and replaceability | Irreplaceable or high-value work may justify custom crating, specialist transport, and a review of your insurance. |
Photograph the front and back of each piece and note any existing damage. Number each photo to match the box number. That record helps you check each piece on arrival and supports a claim if something goes wrong.
Materials for Packing Artwork
Use materials that suit the surface they will touch. An outer layer that works well can damage a painting if it touches the paint directly.
| Material | Use it for | Keep it away from |
|---|---|---|
| Glassine paper | A smooth, non-stick first layer over unglazed paintings and between unframed works on paper | Pastel, charcoal, and other powdery media, which should have nothing touching the surface |
| Acid-free tissue | Covering the front of glazed frames and padding small gaps | Wet or tacky paint |
| Clean, uncoated plastic sheeting | A moisture barrier around a framed piece and its face board | Direct contact with paint or paper |
| Rigid cardboard or foam board | A face board cut to the size of the frame, or slightly larger, to protect against punctures | Any position where it sags onto the surface |
| Bubble wrap or thin closed-cell foam | Outer cushioning around wrapped pieces | Paint surfaces, where its texture can leave an impression |
| Corner protectors | Frame corners, which take most impacts | Fragile gilded or carved corners without a soft lining |
| Picture or mirror cartons | A snug outer box sized to the piece | Oversized boxes that let the piece shift |
| Low-tack tape | Plain, non-laminated glass glazing, and only when your framer or the glass manufacturer agrees | The artwork, the frame finish, gilding, acrylic glazing, and coated glass |
Avoid newspaper anywhere near artwork or frames, since printing ink can transfer. If you need materials, we can provide boxes and packing supplies.
How to Pack Framed Artwork With Glass
- Identify the glazing. If you are not sure whether it is glass or acrylic, or whether the glass has an anti-reflective or protective coating, ask your framer. Acrylic is lighter and less likely to shatter, but it scratches easily and builds static that can lift pastel or charcoal off the paper.
- Decide whether to tape the glass. For plain, non-laminated glass, conservation guidance suggests covering the outside with strips of low-tack tape so that, if it breaks, the tape helps hold shards away from the artwork. Keep the tape on the glass only, fold one end of each strip over to make a pull tab, and remove it slowly soon after the move. Skip this step on acrylic and on coated or museum glass unless the manufacturer or your framer says it is safe. Guidance differs on these surfaces, so when in doubt, leave the tape off.
- Cover the front with acid-free tissue or glassine, then lay a rigid board over the frame face.
- Add corner protectors.
- Wrap the piece in clean plastic sheeting, then a layer of bubble wrap or foam, and tape the wrapping to itself, not to the frame.
- Place it upright in a closely fitting carton, fill any gaps so it cannot slide, and mark the front side.
How to Pack Unframed Canvases
An unframed canvas has no frame to keep wrapping off the paint, so the goal is to ensure nothing rests on the painted surface. Handle the canvas by the stretcher edges, not the face.
- For a dry painting with a flat surface, lay glassine loosely over the face and fold the excess around to the back. Secure the glassine only on the back of the stretcher, never on the paint or the canvas edges.
- Protect the face with a rigid board held off the surface by spacers, a shallow box, or a travel frame. Conservation guidance recommends a travel frame for paintings with surfaces too fragile for any contact, including many acrylic paintings.
- For thick, textured paint, do not let any wrapping touch the raised areas. A travel frame or a box with spacers is safer.
- Do not roll a painted canvas to save space. Flexing can crack the paint layer.
- If the paint is recent and may not be fully dry, ask the artist or a conservator before packing.
How to Pack Prints, Drawings, and Photographs
Unframed works on paper should travel flat and fully supported. Place each sheet in an acid-free paper folder or between sheets of glassine, then sandwich it between two rigid boards cut larger than the work. Tape the boards to each other, not to the folder or the paper.
Pastel, charcoal, and other unfixed drawings are the exception. Nothing should touch their surface, including glassine. Keep them in their frames with a window mat to hold the glazing off the surface, or have a framer or conservator package them. For photographs, use interleaving materials made for photographic prints.
Protect Corners, Separate Pieces, and Label Every Box
- Pack one piece per box when you can. If two small pieces share a carton, wrap each separately and place a rigid board between them.
- Keep boxes upright, the way you would load books on a shelf. Do not lay framed pieces or canvases flat under other boxes.
- Label each box with the piece number from your photos, the destination room, “fragile artwork,” “do not lay flat,” and an arrow showing which side faces the front.
- Write on the box, not on any wrapping that touches the art.
- Use tape only on box seams and outer wrapping. Keep it off the artwork, unfinished wood, canvas edges, gilding, and painted frames.
Plan for Temperature, Moisture, and Storage
Rapid changes in temperature and humidity can harm artwork, and moving from a cold space to a warm one can cause condensation. Do not leave artwork in a parked vehicle, garage, or attic, especially during a Florida summer. Load it last so it spends the least time on the truck, and ask whether you can unload it first.
When the boxes arrive, let wrapped pieces sit indoors before unwrapping them so they can adjust to the room. Wrapping that works well for a single trip may not suit long-term storage, so if artwork has to wait between homes, ask how it will be stored. Our climate-controlled storage between homes keeps pieces out of garages and attics while you wait.
When to Ask for Custom Crating or a Specialist
Soft packing in boxes suits many framed prints and paintings in good condition on a short local move. Consider custom crating, a conservator’s assessment, or a fine art shipper when:
- The piece is irreplaceable or highly valuable.
- The paint is flaking, the canvas is torn, or the frame is loose.
- The work is large. Conservation guidance suggests considering laminated glazing for glazed paintings larger than about one square meter (roughly 10.8 square feet).
- The piece is sculpture, glass, ceramic, or mixed media with fragile projections.
- The move is long-distance, or the piece will go into storage for a long time.
- Your insurer requires an appraisal, a condition report, or a specific packing method.
The American Institute for Conservation maintains a directory to help you find a conservator. When you request a moving estimate, tell the mover about each piece so it can say whether the work fits within its packing service or whether you should bring in a specialist.
Common Artwork Packing Mistakes
- Wrapping bubble wrap directly against a painted surface.
- Putting tape on the artwork, the frame finish, or coated or acrylic glazing.
- Laying canvases flat under heavier boxes.
- Packing a piece loose in an oversized box.
- Using newspaper as padding.
- Rolling a painted canvas to save space.
- Leaving artwork in a hot car, garage, or attic.
- Unwrapping a piece the moment it comes inside after being in a different temperature.
- Skipping photos and condition notes before the move.
Frequently Asked Questions About Packing Artwork
Should I take artwork out of its frame before moving?
Usually not. A sound frame protects the edges and keeps wrapping off the surface. If the frame is fragile or damaged, ask a framer or conservator whether to use a travel frame instead.
How is artwork covered if it is damaged during a move?
It depends on the protection you choose. For moves within Florida, a mover cannot limit its liability below 60 cents per pound per article, and it must disclose its limits and any optional valuation coverage in writing. For interstate moves, federal rules let movers limit liability for items worth more than $100 per pound unless you list them on the shipping documents. Ask your mover how valuation works and check whether your homeowners or fine art policy covers items in transit.
Need Help With Fragile Items?
If you would rather not pack framed art yourself, our packing services cover delicate items and furniture. For interior design projects, we also offer art hanging.