How to Pack Paintings

Make sure you have all your packing items ready before you begin to pack.

Moving is never fun, and if you have precious items that you are moving, such as paintings and other expensive artwork, it is important that they are properly packed so that no damage is done while they are in transit to their new location. You have a couple of options available to you. One option is to hire someone to do the packing for you, which could be expensive. If you want to save money, the best thing to do is to purchase the proper packing materials and do the work yourself. It is easier when you know what you are doing, and when everything is packed, you can be sure that your precious paintings are going to be safe during the moving process.

Things You'll Need

• Bubble wrap
• Packing tape
• Packing material
• "Fragile" stickers
• Packing peanuts
• Moving boxes

Instructions

1. Make sure you have plenty of bubble wrap, preferably the type with the larger bubbles that provide more protection. Measure how much bubble wrap you will need for each painting, and cut it to the right size. This will keep the packaging from being too thick for the boxes you are using, especially if they are thin boxes made especially for paintings.

2. Lay out the bubble wrap, and place a painting on top. Wrap the top, bottom and sides of the bubble wrap around the painting so that they overlap, and secure the wrap with packing tape.

3. Secure the bottom of your box with packing tape to make sure that it does not come open during moving or shipping. You should use at least two or three layers of tape to make sure that it is really secure.

4. Fill the bottom of the box about 2 inches of the way up with the packing peanuts or other material you are using. Place the painting in the box. Fill the box with packing material, making sure that you put the material on both sides of the painting, as well as the top of the painting so that it is completely protected.

5. Seal the top edge of the box the same way you did on the bottom, with at least two layers of packing tape to ensure the box does not open accidentally during moving. You also should add "fragile" stickers, or at least print it in large letters on the box.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are going to be shipping paintings but not moving them yourself, you need to make sure the address they are going to is clearly marked on the box. It is a good idea to use a large black marker to do this, and you should write with large letters so that it really stands out and your paintings arrive where they should.

• As long as you are using the proper packing materials and taking the time to make sure that you are packing your paintings so they are completely secure, there is no reason for them to sustain any damage during the moving process, and you, or whoever you are sending them to, will be enjoying them in their new location in no time.

References

• bubble wrap

Resources

• proper packing materials