Susan Washington

I’ve shipped a lot of artwork since I first began selling art online. At first, it was a bit tricky, especially since most of my paintings are large. But after a while, I became pretty good at wrapping art. Someone even told me they could drop one of my large wrapped paintings out of a plane at 30,000 feet and still arrive intact. That might be an exaggeration, though not far from the truth! Out of the hundreds of paintings I’ve shipped over the last 10 years, only one ever was damaged—the only one I didn’t wrap myself.

On Cohart, we have a fantastic detailed "how-to" guide available [here](https://support.cohart.com/shipping-guidelines). After speaking with some artists who are new to selling online, I realized there were a lot of questions about materials, where to source them, and requests for tips. So, here are some tips, tricks, and product recommendations to help you pack your artwork securely. Note that this guide focuses on shipping stretched canvases—stay tuned for another blog on packing framed pieces or sculptures!

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#### Setting Up Your Shipping Station

If you have the space, create a small shipping station with a clean surface in your studio. Keep essentials like tape, scissors, wrapping materials, and thank you cards in one organized area. It saves time and keeps everything you need within reach. If you can’t designate one spot, I suggest a large plastic packing container where you can put your wrapping materials, label the container, and tuck it away in a corner for when needed.

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You can buy pre-made boxes specifically designed for shipping artwork. They can save you time and the stress of making boxes and crates. If you’re new to shipping art, these boxes are a great place to start.

**[Masterpak](https://masterpak-usa.com/collections/art-shipping-containers/products/titanstrongbox-lined?variant=21282317762619)** offers the Titan Strong Box, a lined box with sizes up to 59” x 32” x 4”.

**[Uline](https://www.uline.com/Product/AdvSearchResult?keywords=art%20boxes&pricode=WK317&AdKeyword=uline%20art%20box&AdMatchtype=e)** also sells boxes with thick foam pillows inside, available in sizes up to 62” x 62”. 

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#### Softwrap Tyvek vs. Glassine Paper

Softwrap Tyvek and glassine paper are commonly used for wrapping and protecting artwork. Here’s a quick comparison:

**[Softwrap Tyvek](https://masterpak-usa.com/products/softwrap-r-tyvekr-by-dupont)**: Archival, acid-free, and tear-resistant, Tyvek is excellent for wrapping and protecting fine art. It’s durable, pH-neutral, and recommended by museum registrars, conservators, and art packing specialists for wrapping paintings. Its superior quality and affordable pricing make it a popular choice among artists. (You can purchase Softwrap Tyvek online and in solid white with no lettering)

**[Glassine Paper](https://www.google.com/search?q=Glassine+Paper&sca_esv=88608bc906ee84a4&sxsrf=ADLYWIIqKBB09KyOxckLgt4nRQAprecxCQ%3A1732784926406&ei=HjNIZ7SzGJ6Yvr0PhJrm8Ac&ved=0ahUKEwi0uorw1v6JAxUejK8BHQSNGX4Q4dUDCA8&uact=5&oq=Glassine+Paper&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiDkdsYXNzaW5lIFBhcGVyMgoQIxiABBgnGIoFMgYQABgHGB4yBhAAGAcYHjIGEAAYBxgeMgYQABgHGB4yBhAAGAcYHjILEAAYgAQYkQIYigUyCxAAGIAEGJECGIoFMgUQABiABDILEAAYgAQYkQIYigVIyQdQpwRYpwRwAXgBkAEAmAFxoAFxqgEDMC4xuAEDyAEA-AEBmAICoAJ4wgIKEAAYsAMY1gQYR5gDAIgGAZAGCJIHAzEuMaAHtgc&sclient=gws-wiz-serp)**: Acid-free and unbuffered, glassine is suitable for wrapping but less durable than Tyvek. It offers some moisture resistance but lacks Tyvek’s durability and breathability. Still, it is an excellent choice to protect the surfaces of your painting when shipping.

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#### Corrugated Cardboard for Custom Boxes

To make your boxes, you can purchase heavy corrugated cardboard sheets from suppliers like Uline, Grainger, Papermart, etc. They offer larger sheets (i.e., 6’x4’ and larger), ideal for packaging oversized artwork with up to 1100 lb. test corrugated pads. You will often see an ECT (Edge Crush Test) rating, which indicates the strength of the cardboard. These are some of the grades of cardboard you will find:

*Single Wall**: Suitable for lightweight items.

**Double Wall**: Provides more protection for heavier pieces.

**Triple Wall**: Offers maximum strength for the heaviest or most delicate artwork.

You can also purchase cardboard from [Pakmail](https://www.pakmail.com/) if there’s a location nearby. They don’t have many places across the US, but it can save a lot of money if you are near one like I was. I mostly sold 30x40” and 36x48” paintings and knew where to score the cardboard pads to make boxes. I would travel the 45 minutes to Pakmail, score the 6’ sheets for boxes while I was there, and then fit them in my jeep so they were ready to go when I sold a painting.

#### Using Luan Panel for Extra Protection

I sometimes use a piece of Luan board (available at large hardware stores) for delicate pieces that don't require full crating (i.e., 36” x 48”). I would have one of the staff cut the Luan panel the size of the front of the painting. I wrap the artwork with glassine and bubble wrap, then place a cut-to-size Luan panel on top, securing it with strapping tape at the corners. The Luan adds an extra layer of protection without needing a crate.

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#### Tapes and Labels

**Tape**: Avoid basic shipping tape, as it often doesn’t hold well. Instead, use strapping tape, which is reinforced with filaments for added strength.

**Labels**: Always add the address printed directly on the box as a backup. I had a label fall off a package once. Because I wrote the address and my contact info with a Sharpie on the box, the carrier could contact me, and it was delivered safely to the collector. 

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Crating for Larger or Fragile Pieces
#### If you need a crate but aren’t a DIY expert, consider hiring someone locally. Look for builders or packaging specialists with experience in crate construction. It’s worth making connections with them before you need a crate.

#### Measure and Take Photos

I once had a carrier claim my package dimensions were larger than what I stated on the shipping documents, leading to an incorrectly significantly higher shipping price. Luckily, I had photos of the wrapped artwork with the label visible and the tape measure visible on all three sides. Documentation can help if you ever need to dispute a charge.

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#### Other Essential Supplies

**Fragile Stickers**: These are inexpensive and available on Amazon or Uline.

**Foam Corners**: Protect the edges of your canvas with foam corners, which you can buy online or make from leftover cardboard.
Bubble Wrap: Always place the bubbles facing outward to avoid indents and damage to your artwork.

#### DON’TS

- Don’t use trash bags to wrap your art.
- Avoid using tissue or wax paper; stick with acid-free paper like glassine or Tyvek.
- Don’t apply tape directly to your artwork or leave gaps in the box.
- Don’t ship multiple pieces together without individually protecting each one first.
- Avoid oversized boxes for smaller pieces; minimize movement within the box during transit.
- Don’t get dog hair on your wrappings!

#### Summary

With the correct materials and a bit of preparation, you can confidently ship your artwork, knowing it will arrive safely in the hands of your collectors. A little extra care in packaging can make all the difference—and it might even survive that mythical 30,000-foot drop test!

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Tips, tricks, and product recommendations to help you pack your artwork securely and like a pro. 

Tips and Tricks for Packaging Artwork Like a Pro

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