Art is not furniture. Even pieces that appear structurally robust, including large framed prints, stretched canvases, and mixed-media works, are vulnerable to forms of damage that standard moving materials and techniques do not address. Canvas can be punctured by any sharp edge in a truck. Oil paint can crack when exposed to temperature swings. Frames can warp when improperly supported. The surface of a watercolor or work on paper can be permanently damaged by direct contact with materials not designed for artwork.
Knowing how to pack art for moving requires understanding that the vulnerabilities differ by medium, and that what protects a framed photographic print is not what protects an oil painting or a bronze sculpture. Morgan Transfer’s specialty moving services treat artwork as its own category with its own requirements, not as an extension of general furniture handling.
Gathering the right materials before you begin is the most important step in moving artwork safely. Using the wrong wrapping materials is one of the most common sources of artwork damage in residential moves, and it is entirely preventable.
Before you begin packing, gather the following:
How to move paintings depends significantly on whether the work is framed, unframed, or a work on paper, and each requires a different approach.
An unframed stretched canvas is one of the most vulnerable pieces in any collection. The surface can be punctured by almost any object that makes contact with enough force, and it has no frame to absorb lateral pressure during stacking or loading.
Wrap the front of an unframed canvas in glassine paper first, then apply a layer of foam or bubble wrap around the entire piece. Store it upright rather than flat, and never stack anything against the painted surface.
Apply foam corner protectors to all four corners before any wrapping begins. Then wrap the piece in glassine paper to cover the surface, followed by a layer of bubble wrap secured around the frame. For works under glass, tape the glass in a cross pattern with painter’s tape before wrapping to contain any breakage if the glass is compromised during transit.
Place the wrapped piece in a mirror box or picture box that fits as closely as possible to the dimensions of the piece, with crumpled packing paper filling any remaining space.
Works on paper, including watercolors, drawings, prints, and photographic works, are especially sensitive to moisture, pressure, and direct contact with non-archival materials. Always use acid-free tissue or glassine for the first layer. Never allow rubber bands, tape, or non-archival materials to contact the surface or edges of the work. If the piece is glazed, apply painter’s tape to the glass before wrapping as a precaution.
Moving fine art introduces environmental risks that most homeowners do not anticipate. Oil paintings are particularly sensitive to temperature fluctuation, which causes the paint layer to expand and contract at a different rate than the canvas or panel beneath it. Over a long-distance move with extended transit time, this cycle of expansion and contraction can cause cracking in the paint layer even when the piece has been physically well-protected.
Humidity is an equal concern for works on paper, photographs, and panel paintings. Excessive moisture causes paper to buckle and panel supports to warp. Packing artwork in a sealed, climate-stable environment for the duration of transit is the standard applied by professional art moving services for exactly this reason.
Moving artwork safely requires more than careful hands. Explore Morgan Transfer’s specialty moving services and let our trained team handle your collection with the expertise it deserves.
Knowing how to pack art for moving yourself is useful for modest collections of standard framed prints and reproductions. For original artwork, antique pieces, large-scale canvases, or anything with significant monetary or sentimental value, the threshold for calling art moving services is lower than most homeowners assume.
The determining factors are straightforward. If the piece is an original rather than a reproduction, call a specialist. If the piece is larger than what fits comfortably in a standard picture box, call a specialist. If the piece is traveling long distance, call a specialist. And if the piece’s loss or damage would be genuinely irreplaceable, the cost of professional handling is not a question worth weighing against the risk.
For artwork that cannot be adequately protected in a standard box, custom crating is the appropriate solution. Our guide to items that always require professional crating covers this in full, but the core principle is straightforward: a custom crate is built around the specific dimensions of the piece, with interior supports that prevent any movement in any direction during transport. For serious collectors or anyone moving artwork of real value, this is not an upgrade. It is the baseline.
Here is what the process actually involves:
Morgan Transfer has spent over 90 years developing the expertise and infrastructure to handle how to pack art for moving at every level, from a single framed print to a full collection of original works. Our team understands that artwork is not furniture, and our process reflects that from the initial assessment through final placement at the destination.
Whether you are moving a modest collection across town or relocating original works across state lines, we are ready to build the right protection plan for every piece. Morgan Transfer serves homeowners and collectors across all of the areas we cover. Reach out to our team to get started.
https://www.morgantransfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/Antique-Store-Inventory.jpg 1250 2000 Abstrakt Marketing /wp-content/uploads/2024/04/logo-300x97.png Abstrakt Marketing2026-06-08 09:00:002026-07-18 19:08:40Questions to Ask Antique Movers Before Trusting Them With Your Antiques
