Whether you are looking to store your valuables in a safe place or to transport them from one place to another, you will spend a lot of time and resources packing them for the journey. After all, the value of certain goods can diminish over time, if you are not careful with them.
If the valuable item in question is an artwork of some kind, the packing process is even more specific and demanding. That said, many people don’t know where to start when packing an artwork for shipping or storage, which is understandable.
This guide will be about why packing artwork is so important, the packaging materials associated with the process, how to pack artwork carefully, and the mistakes you must avoid while packing.
Importance of Packing Artwork Carefully: 3 Key Reasons
Regardless of their type, artwork can be extremely valuable and must be transported carefully. In 2025, you will have access to enough packaging materials and resources to pack your artwork and prepare it for shipping. That said, here are some of the key reasons that make it so important for you to pack your artwork properly:
1. Safer Transportation
Whether your artwork is being sent across continents or the next city, transporting it is likely to be tricky.
After all, even a little damage can significantly diminish the value of your artwork, which is why using professional packaging material to pack it is so important.
For instance, if you are transporting your artwork from Sydney to Melbourne through road freight, you need to pack your artwork with increased diligence so that it does not end up getting damaged during transit.
As a result, the packaging materials you choose and use must depend on the mode of transportation, materials used in the artwork, and any specific conditions applicable to it.
2. Protection from External Damage
As we just discussed, safeguarding your artwork from potential damages during transit is one of the biggest reasons cementing the importance of proper packaging.
Without adequate and appropriate packing, your artwork can also incur additional mechanical damage and get ruined during the shipping and transportation process.
3. Environmental Control
Depending on the type of artwork and the materials used in them, you may be dealing with a highly specific transportation process.
You must also consider that certain materials may alter the artwork or react differently to elements like humidity and sunlight.
Managing these risks and finding the right packaging and containers for your artwork are important parts of the environmental aspect of your packing and transportation process.
Understanding Packing Techniques for Different Types of Artwork
Along with understanding the different types of artworks and different kinds of packaging materials, you must also learn more about aligning both these aspects. Choosing the right packaging material and techniques for each artwork is a part of the transportation process, and must be prioritized to preserve its condition till it reaches the destination.
That said, the steps included in the process, and the considerations you have to keep in mind, may differ for each type of artwork. With that in mind, let us now look at how to pack artwork and pictures for moving, the materials and processes associated with packaging different kinds of artwork:
1. Packing Sculptures
Sculptures are tricky as they could be oddly shaped and have different kinds of dimensions, making them more susceptible to damage.
The initial step would be to wrap the sculpture in a protective layer that remains uniform. You can then wrap it with a generous amount of bubble wrap until the wrapped sculpture resembles an egg or a ball, thus increasing its surface protection.
Depending on the size of your sculpture, you may opt for a small or large moving box as the next step. If the sculpture is too large or heavy, you want to switch out the box for a wooden crate for that extra layer of protection.
To save space and packing materials, you can pack multiple small sculptures in a single large box along with a lot of packing material to prevent contact between the pieces.
There is no such thing as too much protection, so consider labeling all your boxes containing sculptures as “Fragile”, so that they are handled properly and all kinds of damages can be prevented. If you are transporting a lot of sculptures as part of a larger moving operation, this step of labelling your box is mandatory.
2. Packing Canvas Paintings & Artwork
When you are dealing with paintings and artworks, you must first segregate them into framed and unframed art so that you can deal with them more easily.
When packing unframed artwork or canvas paintings, you are dealing with especially delicate materials. For canvas paintings, you may need a layer of barrier wrap for surface protection and corner protectors to safeguard the edges.
You must place the wrapped canvas into a box and ensure it has enough padding and packing material to ensure its safety during transit. Lastly, label the box as fragile before moving the artwork ahead for shipping.
For other kinds of unframed artwork, replace the barrier wrap with cardboard sheets for cost-effectiveness, but all other steps will remain the same.
Alternatively, when packing framed artwork, you are dealing with precious artwork or paintings covered with glass, thus requiring more care than usual.
As an initial step, make an “X’ from edge-to-edge with blue painter's tape to absorb shock, then cover the artwork with barrier wrap. Then place the framed art in a box and pack it with a lot of packing paper to avoid shifting and damage during transit.
You can then seal the box and must ensure its contents are stable, before labelling and sending it ahead for shipping.
3. Packing Prints/Posters/Photographs
Compared to the earlier artwork categories, posters and prints are quite simple to pack and ship across destinations. Even then, posters are susceptible to creasing or tearing during transit, making it important to roll and insert them in cardboard shipping tubes.
Ensure you have the end caps for the shipping tubes that you must seal and tape shut with packing tape. Lastly, you must label the shipping tube so that its contents can be identified easily.
4 Important Factors to Consider Before Packing Your Artwork
The type of artwork as we just saw is a crucial criterion when deciding how to pack it, but there are other characteristics as follows, which play an important role in the decision:
1. Fragility
Depending on its type and the materials used to prepare it, you might be looking at different solutions to how to pack artwork when moving.
While framed artwork is fragile because of the glass covering it, certain canvas paintings are prone to damage or issues resulting from the climate’s reactions to the materials used.
Even oddly-shaped sculptures are prone to damage during transit, if not packed or handled properly.
Fragile artwork needs to be sealed in a box of packing peanuts and paper so that it doesn’t move much during transit. As a result, all valuable artwork must be labelled as fragile so that they are handled accordingly.
2. Size, Weight and Dimensions
The next question to answer is how to pack artwork/canvas that’s small or large and whether they are light or heavy. Smaller and lighter artwork can be packed and shipped in a cardboard box once properly wrapped.
But the heavier and bigger artwork requires a larger cardboard box or in some cases a wooden crate to safeguard its contents. You may also need to use a lot of bubble wrap and different kinds of packing paper depending on the size and dimensions of your artwork.
3. Materials Used
Not all artworks are the same, and depending on the materials used in a specific artwork, handling and packing them can look different from any other artwork.
Materials used in an artwork can range from basic natural elements such as wood, bone, paper, and leather to oil paints or chemical paints that might react with humidity or moisture.
Make a list of all the materials in your artwork and check whether any of them reach with humidity or sunlight. If they are, find the ideal way to protect them and pack them accordingly with the right packaging materials.
4. Value
The final factor to be considered when deciding the process and materials for packing your artwork is its value. As you may have already guessed, your most valuable artwork must be wrapped properly, packed in crates, and labelled as fragile so they are handled properly.
When wondering how to pack artwork for a move, your piece should also be covered by a warranty or insurance by the shipping company before they are sent out.
On the other hand, artwork that is comparatively lesser in value can be shipped together in one box to maintain cost-effectiveness.
4 Common Packaging Materials for Wrapping Artwork
Now that we have looked at the different kinds of considerations to keep in mind when packing artwork, let us look at some of the common packaging materials used in the process. Broadly speaking, packaging materials used for packing artwork can be divided into four categories:
1. Protective Materials
While you are likely to use different types of packaging material to wrap your artwork properly, protective materials help you safeguard your artwork during transit.
You can choose the right materials out of the following depending on whether it is one of the many layers or a single layer of protection for the artwork.
1. Barrier Wrap
Barrier wraps generally refer to a smooth and glossy acid-free paper that can be used to add a protective layer to your artwork. It prevents your artwork from any kind of damage from dust or moisture and is thus generally used to wrap highly valuable artwork before transportation.
2. Acid-Free Tissue Paper
An acid-free tissue or archival paper is completely free from harmful chemicals and is pH-free in nature. As a result, it can prevent any kind of abrasion or damage to your artwork despite having direct contact with it.
3. Archival Foam
While archival foam is more of a cushioning material used to absorb shocks during the transportation of artworks, it is categorized under protective materials because it is non-reactive and is safe to be in direct contact with valuable artwork. This foam packaging material can be cut into any dimensions and shapes based on the artwork and is thus perfect when you are looking for a customized protective layer
2. Cushioning Materials
Aside from protective materials, you also need to use cushioning materials while packing artwork. The quantity of cushioning you require for an artwork depends on its fragility and mode of transportation.
1. Bubble Wrap
One of the most common and best cushioning materials used for packing artwork is bubble wrap. Bubble wrap is essentially a plastic sheet filled with air-filled bubbles that can be wrapped around the artwork to act as a buffer.
You must select the right amount of bubble wrap based on your artwork so that it gets optimal protection during transportation.
However, you must keep in mind that your artwork first needs to be wrapped in acid-free paper before being wrapped in bubble wrap to prevent any kind of damage.
2. Polyethylene Foam
Polyethylene-based foam is a much more lightweight and resilient material that is extensively used in the transportation industry.
The closed-cell structure of the polyethylene foam offers a closed-cell structure that offers further cushioning and shock absorption benefits to safeguard the artwork.
3. Packing Peanuts
Packing peanuts are peanut-shaped, lightweight filling material that provides more cushioning and restricts movement within a shipping box.
So, once your artwork is wrapped and packed in a cardboard box, packing peanuts will ensure that it does not move within the box too much during transportation.
3. Support and Reinforcement Materials
When packing your artwork in a box, ensure its structural integrity aside from the cushioning. These materials should be strong but not unrelenting so they can absorb shock and prevent physical damage.
1. Honeycomb Board
Honeycomb board is a sturdy but lightweight material made out of recycled paper, often used to provide additional support to the artwork within a much larger crate or box.
You might have seen honeycomb boards in deliveries of fragile or electronic products off Amazon and other reputed eCommerce stores. Thus, it adds more sturdiness to the packaging without increasing its weight.
2. Corrugated Polymer Sheets and Cardboard
Corrugated cardboard and polymer sheets can help increase the support and reinforcing features of your artwork packaging.
You can also use these materials to create small crates and corner protectors, however, you must ensure that these are made of acid-free materials and biodegradable.
4. Moisture Control Materials
Depending on the type of artwork you are looking to pack and transport, you might have to use moisture-controlling materials that will help maintain its integrity.
1. Silica Gel Packs/Board
Silica gel packs can be used to prevent any kind of damage or issues resulting from humidity during the transport.
These materials can absorb moisture and help you prevent mould growth as well as other damage. You must also place silica gel packs in airtight and sealed containers to ensure they are effective.
2. Vapor Barrier Films
Vapour barrier films or polyethylene sheets can also help you safeguard your artwork from any kind of moisture damage.
Since these films are impermeable, they add an extra layer of protection against water vapour and moisture.
Aside from the aforementioned materials ensure that you have good-quality packing tape and paper to ensure your shipment is ready to go.
How to Pack Artwork Safely for Shipping: Step-by-Step Process
Now that you know everything that is required to pack artwork effectively, here is a step-by-step process you can follow to pack the artwork in a way that it is completely ready for shipping:
1. Preparing the Artwork
Preparing the artwork is a crucial step in the process of packing and shipping it. In fact, everything we have discussed so far will help you prepare your artwork for the next step.
You start with cleaning the artwork and then wrapping it in barrier wrap before adding another layer of bubble wrap.
You can also use additional materials for cushioning and moisture control, if applicable. You can now place the wrapped artwork in a box or crate and go ahead with shipping it.
2. Documenting Original Condition Before Shipping
When you are wondering how to pack artwork for shipping, you must start by taking inventory of its correct condition. In case your artwork is valuable and costs a lot of money, it is a good idea to document its condition before you ship it to another destination.
This is especially important if you have insured your artwork but even otherwise, you must click pictures of the artwork and describe its present condition.
3. Selecting the Right Packing Method
Once your artwork is cleaned, wrapped with an initial protective layer and properly documented, you need to start packing it well. Choosing the right packing method depends on the materials used in the artwork so that there is no damage to it.
The right packing method will preserve the original condition of the artwork, its physical form and structural integrity.
4. Cleaning the Packing Stations
By the time you reach this stage, you must have prepared your artwork as well as packaging material to help you pack more effectively.
At this stage, it is important that you clean the packing station, and use them to pack your securely wrapped artwork in a box or crate. These packing stations should be placed in a temperature and climate-controlled atmosphere if required.
5. Double-Checking for Any Special Considerations
While your artwork is still at a packing station and being wrapped and packaged properly, you must also consider the broader context associated with it and the future conditions to which it will be exposed.
Ensure that you apply any additional or special considerations to your packing process, based on your artwork and the materials used in it.
6. Adding Appropriate Labels
Once your artwork is wrapped and packed in a cardboard box or crate, you can go ahead with labelling it properly and even personalise the label.
If your artwork is fragile or even if it is highly valuable, you must consider putting labels such as “Fragile” and “Handle With Care” on it, so that it is handled properly by all the parties it comes across.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Packing Your Artwork
By now, you might know everything there is to know about preparing and packing artwork for shipping. However, you must still know about and avoid the following mistakes to prevent any major hurdles in the process:
1. Applying Excessive Pressure
Regardless of whether your artwork is made using fragile materials or not, it must be handled with a lot of care and diligence. A significant part of this process is ensuring you don’t apply too much pressure on the artwork to prevent any major damage.
In the case of sculptures, too much pressure can even break them causing damage or loss.
Instead, ensure that you exert the right amount of pressure along with the right materials and padding so that the artwork is not damaged.
2. Touching the Artwork Directly
By now, we have discussed so much about selecting the materials that touch the artwork carefully, that you may already know that touching it with your bare hands is a big no-no!
The natural oils and grease on your skin can damage the artwork, and make it lose value. What’s more, you should only bring barrier wrap or acid-free paper in direct contact with the artwork and access all these materials using gloves.
3. Using Low-Quality Packing Materials
The fact that we are discussing artwork packaging in so much detail is because they are usually valuable. Artworks that are highly valued and rare require heavy insurance policies and cannot be compromised by using low-quality materials for packaging.
Such artwork needs to be preserved properly with multiple layers of protection, stored in a relevantly shaped box, and with adequate cushioning and padding.
4. Lack of Documentation
When it comes to packing and shipping valuable items such as artwork, you need to document the entire process. You must record the artwork in its original condition before it is wrapped or packed and then at different stages of the packing process. Your documentation of the initial condition will help you answer any insurance claims and serve as evidence that the artwork left the origin in perfect condition.
5. Inadequate Protection of Artwork
The process of packing an artwork is so extensive that there is a scope to make mistakes at almost every stage. After all, when you have so many stages and materials to work with, the possibilities of mistakes are endless.
For instance, you might end up using unsuitable wrapping paper, even though the nature of the artwork requires it to be wrapped in an acid-free packing paper. You might end up directly wrapping the artwork in bubble wrap thus damaging its quality.
All of these mistakes lead to inadequate protection of artwork, which can then lead to different kinds of damages when it is being transported or handled.
Concluding Remarks
The question of how to pack artwork for moving from one place to another is often regarded as difficult because it involves several costs and considerations. Right from deciding the packing materials to be used based on its material to deciding whether it should be stored individually or grouped with other artwork, there are several decisions to take care of. That said, you must never take the process for granted and ensure that each artwork is packed properly using the right materials whether for storage or shipping.
Get a quote from PACK & SEND to have a highly reliable and experienced 3PL partner, help you pack your valuable artwork.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How to Pack Artwork for Moving?
One of the most common scenarios for relocating an artwork is when you are moving your office or home from one location to another. Whether you are moving to a different country or a nearby area within the same city, you have to pack your artwork diligently with the right protective and cushioning material and store it in a sturdy box or crate during the actual transportation.
2. How to Pack Artwork for Shipping?
When you want to ship a valuable artwork like a painting, you must start by wrapping it in an acid-free protective layer, bubblewrap it, add corner protectors and place it in a box with enough padding and cushioning to prevent damage when it is being transported, regardless of the mode.
3. How to Pack Artwork for Storage?
Packing an artwork for storage is very similar to packing it for shipping to another destination. The biggest difference is that you can skip the additional protective cushioning and padding you would add when wrapping an artwork in a box before shipping it out. However, you must still ensure you have adequate moisture-control and temperature-control mechanisms to store your artwork safely for a longer duration.
4. What are the most common packing materials for artwork?
Some of the most common packing materials associated with artwork include bubble wrap, barrier wrap, packing peanuts, foam board, honeycomb board, silica gel packs and more. You have to choose the right combination of packing materials from this list based on the nature of your artwork and the materials used in it.