Your artwork is one of the most personal parts of your home. Framed photographs, original paintings, cherished prints, and decorative mirrors do not just fill wall space; they hold memories. When moving day arrives, these pieces need a level of care that goes well beyond stacking boxes. As one of the most trusted moving companies in Chicago, Elite Moving & Storage has been helping Chicagoland families protect their valuables since 2006. You can pack artwork for moving at home with the right supplies, but some pieces are worth a phone call before you risk it. Read on to know which is which.
What Supplies Do You Need?
Before you start wrapping anything, get everything together first. Running out of bubble wrap halfway through a large mirror is not where you want to be.
- Mirror and picture boxes. These are specially sized boxes built for framed art and mirrors. A standard moving box is not designed for the weight distribution or height of a large frame. Elite carries these in multiple sizes as part of our packing services in Chicago.
- Bubble wrap is your primary cushioning layer. Plan on at least two full wraps around each piece, and more for anything with glass.
- Acid-free glassine goes directly against unframed canvas paintings. Regular paper, cloth, or bubble wrap placed directly on paint can stick, smear, or leave impressions. Do not substitute.
- Cardboard sheets are cut slightly larger than each frame and used to create a rigid sandwich before bubble-wrapping. This is what gives the package its structure.
- Painter’s tape is applied to glass surfaces in an X pattern before wrapping. If the glass breaks in transit, the tape holds shards in place and protects the artwork underneath.
- Packing paper for filling gaps inside boxes. Never use newspaper, as the ink transfers directly onto frames and matting.
- Heavy-duty packing tape for sealing boxes and securing wrapping. Use packing tape only, not duct tape. Duct tape leaves a residue that is hard to remove from frames.
How to Pack Framed Artwork and Photographs
Framed pieces, such as oil paintings behind glass, family photos, and decorative prints, follow the same process. Work on a clean flat surface and take your time with each one.
Step 1: Protect the glass
If the frame has a glass front, apply painter’s tape directly to the glass. Make a large X from corner to corner, then add a strip along each edge. This reinforces the glass against impacts and, if it does break, contains the shards so they cannot damage what is underneath. Never skip this on glazed pieces.
Step 2: Add a cardboard layer
Cut two pieces of cardboard slightly larger than the face of the frame. Sandwich the artwork between the two sheets and tape the edges together, keeping tape off the frame itself. This rigid outer shell absorbs pressure before it reaches the frame or glass.
Step 3: Wrap in bubble wrap
Lay the cardboard-protected piece face down on a sheet of bubble wrap. Fold the wrap over all four sides and secure with packing tape. Go around at least twice for larger or more valuable pieces. Every corner and edge should be covered.
Step 4: Box it correctly
Place the wrapped piece in a mirror and a picture box that fits snugly. Fill any gaps with packing paper so the frame cannot shift inside the box. The box should close flat without forcing. Pack each piece separately. Two frames touching without individual wrapping will scratch each other.
Step 5: Label everything
Write FRAGILE and THIS SIDE UP on at least two sides of every box. Add DO NOT STACK if the piece is delicate. Clear labeling ensures that everyone who handles the box knows what is inside and how to treat it.
How to Pack Unframed Canvas Paintings
Canvas paintings without a glass covering need a different approach. To pack artwork for moving when it is on canvas, the priority is protecting the paint layer from contact, pressure, and humidity, not just the frame.
Start by placing acid-free glassine directly against the painted surface. This step cannot be skipped. Once the glassine is in place, add the cardboard layers on each side and wrap the entire bundle in bubble wrap exactly as described above for framed pieces.
For large canvases, consider custom crating rather than boxing. A wood crate provides rigid, impact-resistant protection that bubble wrap alone cannot match for oversized or high-value works. Always stand canvases vertically in the truck, never flat with anything stacked on top. Pressure on a canvas over a long drive can cause permanent dents or cracks in the paint surface.
How to Pack Mirrors for Moving
Mirrors combine fragile glass with awkward sizes and significant weight. The technique is the same as framed art, but the scale demands extra attention. Use a specialty mirror box rather than a standard moving box. These are taller, sturdier, and designed to keep the piece upright. Apply the X-pattern painter’s tape to the glass; for large mirrors, go heavier on coverage given the greater surface area.
For full-length or oversized mirrors that will not fit any standard box, the safest option is to have your movers wrap the piece in moving blankets and transport it vertically, secured to the truck wall. One rule that applies every time: vertical, never flat. A mirror laid flat with any weight on top is far more likely to break.
When to Let Professionals Handle It
DIY packing is fine for most household artwork. But knowing how to pack artwork for moving is one thing. Having the right equipment and experience is another. Some pieces are worth leaving to the professionals:
- Original paintings or sculptures with significant monetary value
- Irreplaceable pieces regardless of dollar value, including family heirlooms and custom commissions
- Oversized works that will not fit standard picture boxes
- Antique or gilded frames, ornate carved woodwork, or unusually fragile decorative frames
- Works on paper, such as watercolors, pastels, and drawings, that are sensitive to pressure or humidity
For these situations, Elite offers white glove moving services in Chicago: premium packing, padded transport, and careful placement in your new home.
For clients with art collections or high-value interiors, our designers moving service is built specifically for pieces that require specialist handling from start to finish.
Custom crating is also available on request. If you have a piece that will not fit a standard box or needs rigid protection during a long haul, mention it when you get your quote.
5 Mistakes to Avoid When Packing Artwork
- Using newspaper instead of packing paper. Newspaper ink transfers directly onto frames and matting. Always use plain white packing paper.
- Using duct tape on boxes or frames. It leaves residue that is hard to remove. Use packing tape only.
- Skipping the cardboard layer. Bubble wrap alone does not prevent a frame from flexing under pressure. The cardboard sandwich is what gives the package its rigidity.
- Packing multiple pieces without individual wrapping. Every piece gets its own wrap, even small frames of the same size.
- Laying mirrors flat. Always lay them vertical.
Preparation Is the Best Packing Material
Artwork survives moves every day without incident, and most of it gets there through nothing more than the right materials and a bit of patience. The pieces that do not make it are usually the ones that got rushed, under-wrapped, or laid flat in a truck. Taking an extra twenty minutes per piece to pack artwork for moving is almost always worth it. The one decision worth making before moving day is which pieces you will pack yourself and which ones you will hand off.
