How to Safely Ship Art by Mail
- Arien Reed
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
Shipping original artwork by mail can be a nerve-wracking experience. Whether you are an artist sending your work to a gallery or buyer, a collector purchasing a piece, or a business shipping art to a client, you want the artwork to arrive on time and in the same condition it was when it left the art studio. Damage, warping, or even minor indentations, creases, or scratches can ruin the value and integrity of your piece. This guide offers practical, step-by-step advice to help you ship original canvas artwork safely and confidently.
Prepare the Artwork Properly
Before packaging, prepare the artwork to minimize risks during transit.
Remove Loose Parts
Detach any removable parts like glass or bulky hanging hardware, if possible. Ship glass separately or use acid-free glassine paper to protect the surface. That said, I personally like to ship products that are completely assembled and ready-to-hang, so I opt to pair picture frames with plexiglass instead of real glass, and I leave the protective film on the outside of the plexiglass to reduce chances of scratches, and foam sheets to protect against cracking or chipping.
Use Backing Boards
Place a rigid backing board behind flat artworks such as drawings and prints to prevent bending. This also helps to reduce scrunching of corners. Alternatively, you can roll paper artworks up and insert them into a sturdy mailing tube that is at least 2 inches longer than the artwork itself, but mailing tubes are harder for customers to unpackage, and the process of rolling up the art can result in creases or warping of the paper. I would caution against using a mailing tube of less than 3 inches in diameter, especially with rigid paper artwork, since the chances of creases or other damage are much higher the tighter the artwork must be rolled up, and thicker, stiffer papers are very difficult to roll up (and for your customer to unroll) without creasing, leaving fingerprints, or experiencing other forms of damage.
Protect the Surface
For canvas artwork, wrap the painting first in glassine paper to protect the paint, ink, or varnish from scratches or from being stuck to packaging materials. Then surround the artwork with bubble wrap with the bubbles facing outward so the smooth side is against the artwork. Wrapping the artwork with a textured surface facing the painted surface of the canvas can result in the texture becoming permanently embossed into the artwork's varnish!
For unframed works on paper, consider inserting the artwork into a clear plastic sleeve such as a poly-bag, backed with a rigid chipboard, foam board, or cardboard backing board, for a nice appearance upon arrival and to protect the art print or artwork's surface from smears, scratches, and moisture or humidity during packing and transit.
Pack with Care and Cushioning
How you pack canvas and 3-dimensional artwork inside the box determines its safety.
Layer Padding
Place a layer of packing peanuts, foam, or crumpled paper between the artwork and box. The artwork should not make direct contact with the box.
Position the Artwork
Center the wrapped artwork inside the box and tape it to the box or to the padding, ensuring it does not touch the sides of the box and does not move around when the box is shaken.
Add More Padding
Fill all gaps around the artwork with cushioning material to prevent movement and to provide cushion against external impact.
Double Boxing
For valuable or fragile pieces, use a double-box method: place the packed box inside a larger box with additional padding between them.
Choose the Right Packaging Materials
The foundation of safe shipping is using the correct packaging materials. Your choice depends on the type, size, and fragility of the artwork.
Rigid Mailers or Boxes
Use sturdy, rigid mailers for flat artworks like unframed prints or drawings. For framed or three-dimensional pieces, select a strong cardboard box with enough space for padding. I recommend adding at least four inches to the artwork's height and width and at least one inch to the artwork's depth.
Protective Wraps
Use acid-free paper such as glassine paper to prevent surface damage. Then add a layer of bubble wrap or foam sheets for cushioning.
Corner Protectors
For framed pieces and stretched canvas, use cardboard or foam corner protectors to guard against impacts. Cardboard corners with foam inside them are best.
Sealing Materials
Use packing tape to secure all wrapping and close boxes tightly, ensuring no gaps. Avoid using masking tape or cellophane tape as they do not hold well, and avoid duct tape or gorilla tape as some postal services such as the United States Post Office will not accept packages bearing opaque, colored tape.
Label Clearly and Include Instructions
Clear labeling helps postal workers handle your package with care.
Fragile Stickers
Mark the box with “Fragile” or “Handle with Care” stickers on multiple sides. I also like to use a chunky sharpie to write "Do not stack" on cube-shaped boxes containing 3-dimensional art and "Do not lay flat" on slimmer boxes housing 2-dimensional art.
Orientation Labels
Use “This Side Up” arrows to indicate the correct position, if shipping 3-dimensional art.
Include Contact Information
Inside the package, add a note with your contact details and the recipient’s information in case the outer label is damaged.
Choose the Right Shipping Service
Selecting a reliable carrier and service level reduces risks.
Reputable Carriers
Use well-known carriers with experience handling art shipments. I personally prefer USPS, but will use Fed-Ex for exceptionally large, time-sensitive, fragile, or expensive artworks.
Insurance
Always insure your package for its full value. This protects you financially if damage or loss occurs.
Tracking and Signature
Opt for tracking and require a signature on delivery to ensure the package reaches the right hands.
Monitor and Communicate
Stay informed throughout the shipping process.
Track the Package
Regularly check the tracking status and notify the recipient of any updates, or provide the recipient with the tracking number, carrier name, and a web link to the live tracking status. If possible, your customer's provided email and phone number to sign them up for all shipment status notifications.
Prepare for Delivery
Make sure someone is available to receive the package to avoid it being left unattended.
Shipping original artwork by mail requires attention to detail and careful preparation. Using the right materials, packing methods, and shipping services will protect your art and give you peace of mind. Take the time to plan your shipment thoroughly, and your artwork will arrive safely, ready to be admired.
Common Mistakes
We've all been there.
Wrapping paintings directly in bubblewrap.
Plastic bubblewrap can sometimes stick to canvas paintings and cause damage when peeled away.
Shipping paintings too soon after creation.
Shipping a painting too soon after you have finished painting and/or varnishing it can result in smears and textured depressions caused by the packaging material rubbing against paint or varnish that hasn't finished curing, hardening, or drying. For oil paintings, it's best to wait until the paint is completely dry and hard before shipping. For any painting sealed with varnish, allow at least one week for the varnish to dry during wet or cold weather, or at least 3 days during dry and hot weather.
Letting two paintings make direct contact with each other.
Whether varnished or unvarnished, paintings like to stick together when they make direct contact, especially when face-to-face, and damage very often occurs as you peel them apart. Wrap both paintings separately in glassine paper and then separately in bubblewrap. Do not let them face each other, instead let them both the same direction (front of one painting against the back of the other), and add an extra layer of bubblewrap to the painting facing outward.
Using rigid mailers that aren't so rigid.
Read the reviews on a rigid mailer product before placing your purchase. Some rigid mailers are too flimsy to be appropriate for artwork or art prints.
What mistakes have you made while shipping art? Share your experience in the chat below!
Have Questions? Ask them in the chat and I'll try to answer them!
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