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Pack and transport framed art
Both packing guides we could read agree on the core method: tape an X across the glass, fit corner protectors, wrap the frame in bubble wrap, box it snugly and mark it fragile. They differ on order, and neither gives layer counts or box clearances.
Layers from the two guides, seen from the front. Schematic, not to scale.
Where the two guides agree and differ
| Point | U-Pack (moving company) | Fine Art Shippers |
|---|---|---|
| Glass X | Masking or painter's tape X across the glass | Tape in an X on the glass to reduce shatter risk |
| Corners | Cardboard or foam corner protectors | Corner protectors on all four corners |
| Wrap | Bubble wrap or plastic stretch wrap, taped | Bubble wrap or kraft bubble around the whole piece |
| Inner layer | Clean the glass first with a lint-free cloth | Non-adhesive acid-free paper as the innermost layer |
| Box | Snug box, reinforce sides and bottom, cushion the bottom | Piece sandwiched between two taped cardboard sheets, then boxed |
| Marking | Fragile and arrow stickers; show which side is up; do not carry frames flat or stack on top | Fragile label |
| Overseas | Not covered | Consider a custom wooden crate |
Both sources are company guides from a moving firm and an art shipper. Carrier pages from UPS and FedEx could not be fetched, so we cannot quote carrier rules; check your carrier's packing rules before you ship, and our own caution, not from either guide: do not rely on tape or wrap alone for a large pane of glass. Neither guide gave inch clearances or a weight limit.
Steps
- Gather supplies. Wrap, corner protectors, painter's or masking tape, packing tape, a marker and a sturdy box.
- Clean the glass. Wipe it with glass cleaner and a lint-free cloth so grit does not scratch it.
- Tape an X on the glass. Use masking or painter's tape across the glass to reduce shatter risk.
- Fit corner protectors. Put cardboard or foam protectors on all four corners.
- Wrap the frame. Wrap the whole piece in bubble wrap and secure it with packing tape.
- Box it snug. Choose a snug box, reinforce the sides and bottom with tape and fill gaps without overloading.
- Label it. Mark the box fragile with arrows and show which side is up.
Sources
- U-Pack: the best way to pack picture frames and mirrors (moving company guide) (fetched 2026-11-12)
- Fine Art Shippers: how to pack a framed picture for shipping (shipper guide) (fetched 2026-11-12)
Figures from these pages are paraphrased; each page was fetched and read on 2026-11-12. Where two sources differ, both are shown. Order of steps follows U-Pack; Fine Art Shippers' paper layer is noted in the table.