How to ship · household
How to ship artwork
Framed artwork and stretched canvases are similar ship-for-ship but differ in corner protection. Canvas stretches need rigid board over the painted surface; framed prints need glass protection.
- Typical weight
- Framed 16x20 in print: 3-6 lb, 24x36 in canvas: 5-12 lb
- Rate band tracked
- USPS/UPS Ground
- Cheapest option
- USPS Priority Mail Large Flat Rate, up to 70 lb any distance
Rate guidance
Heavier than our rate tracker goes
At a minimum of 16 lb, this sits above our 5 lb rate band. USPS Ground Advantage still applies (up to 70 lb), and UPS Ground goes to 150 lb. See the carrier notes below for the realistic options and expected cost.
Why no table: we track representative rates at 12 oz, 1 lb, 5 lb, and 20 lb. Anything between 20 and 70 lb would be an extrapolation, not a live quote. Carrier calculators are the honest answer for that range.
Before you pack
The box and materials
Box
Custom-sized corrugated; artwork boxes from Uline or Amazon
2 in larger on each side than the artwork
Art shipping boxes (double-wall) offer far better impact protection than single-wall.
Checklist
- Double-wall corrugated box
- Acid-free glassine or brown paper
- Foam-board (1/2 in)
- Bubble wrap
- Corner protectors
- Tape
- This Side Up and Fragile labels
The process
Pack artwork in 5 steps
01 of 05
Wrap the face in glassine
Acid-free glassine (brown paper, smooth) goes directly against the art surface. Prevents sticking.
02 of 05
Add foam-board over the face
Cut foam-board to the exact dimensions of the artwork. Place over the glassine.
03 of 05
Wrap in 2 layers of bubble
Large-bubble wrap; at least two full layers.
04 of 05
Corner protectors
Cardboard corner protectors on all four corners.
05 of 05
Into the box with rigid fill
Box should be 2 in larger per dimension. Fill with foam-board scraps, not peanuts (peanuts shift).
Carrier notes
Which carrier to use
USPS
Priority Mail Large Flat Rate box (12 x 12 x 6 in) fits most 11x14 in framed prints. For larger, use Ground Advantage.
UPS
Ground; less expensive for very large pieces over 30 x 40 in.
FedEx
Similar to UPS; use Home Delivery for residential endpoints.
Insurance + declared value
Protecting the package
Always insure artwork. Declare at retail replacement cost. Document the piece with photographs before shipping.
Specialty shippers are worth it here.
For artwork over $2,000 or very large pieces (over 40 x 60 in), specialty art shippers like CratersMovers or ArtNetwork include white-glove handling and climate control.
Get quotes on uShipFAQ
Common questions
Q01 What about shipping with glass?
For anything over 11x14 in framed with glass, replace the glass with acrylic before shipping. Glass cracks even with good packing; acrylic just bends.
Q02 Do I need climate-controlled shipping for oil paintings?
Under 90 days in transit, standard shipping is fine. For international or very long transit, yes.
Q03 What about prints mailed in a tube?
Only unframed prints. A tube with foam end caps and end-cap closures works great for rolled prints.