The reliable way to pack paintings for moving is a stack of layers: a clean, non-stick barrier against the surface (glassine or acid-free paper), then bubble wrap with the bubbles facing out, corner protectors, and a sturdy box only slightly larger than the piece. The first layer deserves the most thought, since it is the only one that actually touches the paint.
Three things to do before you touch the tape
Photograph every piece from several angles, with close-ups of any existing chips or cracks. 1-800-PACK-RAT suggests recording the size, medium, and condition of each item; if something arrives damaged, that record is what an insurance claim leans on. Next, wipe dust off glass and frames, and handle unframed work in clean cotton or nitrile gloves. Finally, sort the art by type, not by room. When you work out how to pack artwork for moving, what matters is what is on its face: glass, bare paint, or loose paper.
The first layer depends on what the painting is
Framed pieces behind glass. Tape a large X across the glass, into the corners, so a crack holds together instead of grinding against the art. Colonial Van Lines, Extra Space Storage, and 1-800-PACK-RAT all recommend painter's or artist's tape, which peels off without leaving a sticky film. The glass keeps dirt off the image, so these go straight into paper, then bubble wrap.
Canvas with no glass. This is where how to pack canvas art for moving differs from framed work: nothing stands between the paint and your materials. Extra Space Storage and 1-800-PACK-RAT both recommend placing acid-free paper or glassine directly against the artwork, while Extra Space specifically warns that plain tissue can leave marks on the surface. Add cardboard or foam corner protectors, since a stretched canvas has no frame to take the knocks.
Prints and works on paper. Wrap them in glassine and keep them between rigid acid-free dividers. The Spruce adds a caution: Mylar film carries a static charge, so it should not touch pastel or charcoal pieces.
Regular plastic wrap is the most disputed step. The sensible middle road, from Extra Space Storage and 1-800-PACK-RAT, is plastic only on top of the paper barrier. If the paint is not bone dry, keep plastic off it entirely.
How to wrap paintings for moving, layer by layer
- Lay out packing paper on a clean, flat surface, about twice the size of the piece.
- Place the painting face down, fold the paper over like a present, and tape the paper to itself, never onto the art.
- Add cardboard corner protectors.
- Repeat with bubble wrap, bubbles facing outward so they cushion rather than press dimples into the surface.
- Tape the bubble layer lengthwise and widthwise so it cannot slide off.
Never use newspaper as a wrap. The ink rubs off and can mark the art.
Choosing the box
Use a box slightly larger than the wrapped piece, with room for padding; flat mirror boxes from moving supply stores are made for this. For the rest of the kit, Fine Art Shippers keeps a toolkit of artwork packaging supplies worth checking before you shop. Inexpensive prints of similar size can share a box; an original or an heirloom gets its own. Before sealing, give the box a gentle shake and add crumpled packing paper until nothing shifts. Mark FRAGILE on every side, with arrows showing which way is up.
How to pack large paintings for moving
Big pieces follow the same layering, each in its own box. For heavy, oversized, or oddly shaped work, 1-800-PACK-RAT recommends a wooden crate. Fine Art Shippers lays out the process in a step-by-step guide to artwork packing and crating. Do not lift a large piece alone. In the truck, stand every painting box on its edge and wedge it between heavy, well-secured furniture; a box lying flat invites someone to stack a carton on top. The single most delicate piece can ride in your own car.
Oversized, antique, or crated: the professional route
Packing artwork for moving yourself is entirely doable for posters, prints, and mid-sized framed pieces. It gets harder with oversized canvases, antique frames, or anything that needs a crate built to its exact size. SOS Moving, a moving company in Los Angeles, also works across Orange County, and its page for Irvine movers describes the kind of packing a painting needs: fragile and bulky pieces packed with pro-grade materials, custom crates, and a label on every box. Whoever handles your art, ask three questions: who builds the crate, who packs the painting, and who unpacks it at the other end.