How to Pack Art for Shipping: 5 Expert Tips for Artists to Prevent Damage

How to Pack Art for Shipping: 5 Expert Tips for Artists to Prevent Damage

26.04.2025

Interested in how to pack art for shipping like a pro? Here are the top 5 tips that will help you master the art of safe packaging.

Delivering your art to a new owner or a gallery is always exciting. Yet, it can turn into a nerve-wracking problem if you’re not sure how to pack art for shipping. Luckily, with the right set of materials and a few tried and tested professional packing tips, you can cope with the task without a problem. Read this article to elevate your packing skills to a new level.

Use Acid-Free Material to Protect Surfaces

Any artwork should be covered by acid-free, non-adhesive packaging material first. You may use glassine paper, archival tissue paper, or art plastic for this purpose. Glassine paper is often preferred by artists because it is also water- and air-resistant, meaning it will safeguard your art from all kinds of external effects.

Add Protective Padding

Now that your artwork is covered with the first layer of protection, it’s time to add bubble wrap or soft foam to provide proper cushioning for the object. The padding layer is a vital shock-absorbing remedy to the bumps and hits your art object may experience in transit.

Mind the Box’s Dimensions

Next comes the choice of a packaging box. The rule of thumb is to take a slightly larger box so that it houses the artwork and all of the packaging material you’ve wrapped it in. Find a sturdy cardboard box that won’t tear or deform under slight influence.

Use Corner Protectors

If your artwork is a canvas, framed or unframed, its corners are always the most vulnerable part. It makes sense to add plastic or cardboard corner protectors when packing your art. This way, you will ensure the right level of security for the art object, even if it sustains some sort of physical impact during transportation.

Don’t Leave Empty Space Inside

Since your box is a bit larger than the artwork, some spare space may remain even after wrapping the art object in several layers of packaging materials. Always fill that empty space with more bubble wrap or foam inserts to prevent the art object from shifting inside the box.

Not Sure How to Pack Art for Shipping? Our Experts Can Help

Even with these tips on how to pack art for shipping, you may still have doubts about your ability to handle the task alone. In this case, the Fine Art Shippers team is ready to stand in for you and complete this task. We’re a professional art logistics company with three decades of experience under our belt. Our packaging solutions are always totally safe and customized to the art object type, dimensions, shipping distance, and the client’s personal preferences. Contact us today to learn the details.