How to Ship Artwork Safely? Full Guide On Mailing Art Prints
September 05, 2025
As an artist, selling your artwork is rewarding, but shipping it can be stressful. Whether you're mailing a delicate watercolor, a framed painting, or a large canvas, one mistake in packing can ruin your masterpiece. Your valuable print piece, done through enough hard work, deserves to arrive in its original state as it is created.
Whether you are an artist, a painting collector, or a gallerist, it is exhausting to ship art prints. Packaging your artwork in art packaging is indispensable, ensuring the safe shipment of your artwork. How to ship framed artwork? Fret not!
This comprehensive guide will show you how to ship artwork like a pro, from protective packaging techniques to selecting the right courier and saving on shipping costs. You will learn how to ensure the safe arrival of your artwork. Let's begin.
Why Does Shipping Artwork Properly Matter?
Shipping paintings properly, protecting their value, integrity, and the artist's reputation, is crucial. Any uncertain damage during shipping can impact the artwork's financial and statement value. However, proper packaging and shipping can ensure the safe arrival of your art prints.
Protection from Damage During Transit
Your artwork is fragile and needs the ultimate protection from sudden damage. They are susceptible to various forms of damage during shipping, including:
- Bumps
- Drops
- Vibrations
- Tears
- Dents
- Broken frames
- Fluctuating environmental conditions
- Dust and dirt
Maintaining Value
Nobody likes damaged artwork. It can hit your reputation and trust, which can result in losing potential buyers. Invest in proper shipping to preserve the value and historical significance of your artwork to satisfy your customers.
Professionalism
The way you ship your artwork reflects your professionalism. A well-packaged artwork demonstrates care, attention to detail, and respect for the masterpiece.
Top 4 Goals to Achieve When Shipping Art Prints
Below are the top 4 goals to achieve when shipping your art pieces:
1. Ship Artwork Safely
Your first goal is to ensure the safety of your artwork. If your painting arrives in a damaged condition, it will disappoint your customer. You must know how to pack artwork for moving and shipping securely. Be sure your painting is properly packed.
2. Art That Shows Professionalism and Impression
The second goal is expressing your professionalism. Make your painting look worthwhile at first glance to impress your customers. Without opening the package, your customers will be happy and appreciate your artwork and packaging.
3. Ship Smartly to Save Money
The third goal is to control shipping expenses without cutting your profit margin. For this, choose a reliable courier service that cares about such pieces and delivers them with care.
4. Pack Your Artwork with a Purpose
The fourth goal is to show care for nature. Your material selection for artwork shipping boxes should be eco-friendly with less environmental impact.
Key Factors To Consider Before Shipping Artwork
There are many considerable factors to ship your artwork. Here are the most suitable options you should follow:
Mounting
The better way to pack helps you determine where your artwork is mounted. The mounted canvases are shipped in a box. On the other hand, unmounted canvases need to be shipped in tubes.
Sizes
The sizes of your masterpieces matter a lot. Choose padded mailers or cardboard boxes for shipping if the size of your artwork is small or medium. If you don’t know how to ship a large canvas painting that is heavier or larger than 48 inches, crating is the best option for its protection.
Insurance
There is no doubt that your artwork is of high value. Despite your best efforts to ensure its protection, the possibility of damage still exists. For this, you must buy insurance from a reliable shipping carrier for any damage or loss.
How to Smartly Pack Your Artwork for Shipping?
Preparing a pack to place your canvas painting is good. You can make it yourself. But how? Let’s make it. It’s pretty simple. The tools you need to turn your dream into reality are:
- Corrugated Cardboard Sheets
- Box Sizer
- Box cutter
- Tape Gun
- Packing Tape
- Clear cellophane wrap
- Bubble Wrap
Now, here are the preparation steps for packing artwork before shipping.
Step 1: Corrugated Cardboard Sheet Preparation
Start packing preparation by choosing a double-wall corrugated cardboard sheet or pad. Ensure it has sufficient thickness to withstand pressure.
Step 2: Sizes and Dimensions Measurements
Measure your artwork, its width and height, and how much space is required for packing. The most common sizes of corrugated cardboard sheets are:
- 12" x 18"
- 16" x 20"
- 18" x 24"
- 20" x 30"
- 24" x 36"
The box sizer tool will allow you to determine the dimensions of the sheet from which you need to cut the corrugated cardboard paper sheet.
Step 3: Cutting Corrugated Cardboard Sheet
Use a box cutter to cut the sheet to an appropriate size. Leaving a little extra space of 3 or 4 inches from each side. This extra space will teach you how to ship a framed picture comfortably.
Step 4: Wrapping Your Piece
Wrapping artwork for shipping is easy. Place your artwork on the sheet and wrap it around with a clear cellophane to give a clear view.
Step 5: Seal the Painting
Use painter's tape to secure the four sides of the painting. It will not affect the cellophane wrap when the painter’s tape is removed.
Step 6: Putting Another Sheet of Corrugated Cardboard
Now, put another corrugated cardboard sheet on the top. Use a tape gun to apply heavy shipping tape to adhere to cardboard.
Step 7: Using Bubble Wrap in Packaging for Extra Protection
Use bubble wrap that will offer more protection, even if the painting package rolls during shipment. Your artwork is finely packed now. Say WOW!
Read More: Will UPS Accept USPS Packages? Everything You Need to Know
Top Courier Service Options For Shipping Paintings and Artwork
USPS, FedEx, and UPS are popular shipping couriers in the USA. They all provide artwork shipping services along with insurance up to a certain amount. You must consider three principal points when shipping paintings through these couriers.
- The weight of your masterpiece
- The dimensions and sizes of your package
- The distance your package is to travel
Each courier service company has its own standards of shipping, considering the weight, size, and cost of the package.
You must learn how to ship posters and paintings. Consult with them first before shipping. It will help you understand their guidelines, such as size restrictions, weight limits, and additional fees (if they occur for artwork), for efficient, smooth, and successful shipping.
Shipping Artwork Through USPS
USPS (United States Postal Service) is a government agency that provides postal service. It handles shipping parcels, packages, and letters. They offer First Class Mail that delivers within 1 to 5 working days. Their Priority Mail is fast to arrive within 1 day. Priority Mail Express delivers within two business days. For flat shipping boxes for artwork, you can pick Flat Rate Priority Mail. The delivery time is 1 to 3 business days, which can be a good choice.
Shipping Artwork Using FedEx
FedEx is another popular shipping courier service provider for shipping paintings and other fragile items, ensuring protection and safe delivery. They offer FedEx Ground, which arrives in 1 to 5 days.
For overnight shipment, choose FedEx Overnight, which arrives the next day by 8 AM. FedEx Priority Overnight, which arrives the next day by 10 AM, is another option you can choose from. Besides this, you can pick FedEx Standard Overnight, which arrives the next day by 3 PM.
Shipping Artwork Through UPS
UPS (United Parcel Service) is a globally renowned company that offers package delivery and logistics. Shipping your fine art and pieces through UPS is easier, as they offer different-sized shipping boxes for paintings, allowing you to choose a box suitable for packing your artwork.
They offer UPS Ground, which arrives in 1 to 5 days. Their UPS 3 Day Select arrives in 1 to 3 working days, which is also a good choice.
You can also choose UPS Next Day Air, which arrives the next working day by 10:30 AM. They also offer UPS 2nd Day Air, which arrives in 1 to 2 working days.
Also Read: UPS Shipping Label Guide: How to Create and Print?
What’s the Most Economical Way To Ship Artwork?
If you have a limited budget and want to know how to ship art prints at the lowest prices, consider using a shipping courier by comparing their prices based on several factors such as size, weight, destination, speed, and insurance.
USPS, FedEx, and UPS are big names offering their shipping services. They offer different shipping services with set prices. Which shipping courier is the cheapest? This question makes you think and rethink before shipping your artwork. Don’t worry.
The most popular online tools available to help you compare shipping costs with each courier are:
- Easyship
- Parcel Monkey
- CoolParcel
You must choose a courier that comes within your budget.
In The Nutshell
Shipping artwork to your clients is not challenging today. By choosing the right packaging materials and courier service, you can ship your painting efficiently and harmlessly with confidence. Step ahead and ship your drawing!
If you need assistance regarding packaging, Custom Product Packaging offers customized and sustainable packaging solutions, such as boxes and wrappers, that make you feel stress-free when packing and shipping your product. Why wait? Email us at orders@customproductpackaging.com.
