Artwork Packaging: How to Post Prints, Canvases and Framed Art

Artwork packaging depends on what you are posting. An unframed print needs to stay flat and clean, a canvas needs padding on its face and corners, and a framed picture with glass needs the most care because one hard knock can crack the glass.

Pack Solution stocks the materials for each job: Board Back Envelopes, Transparent OPP Bags, Large Bubble Wrap, Honeycomb Paper Rolls, Double Wall Cardboard Boxes and Warning Labels. We do not sell poster tubes, picture frame boxes or corner protectors, so where you would normally reach for one of those, we say what to use from our range.

Quick Picks: Artwork Packaging for Posting

Most artists and print sellers can cover nearly every order with these three: a strong box, a roll of large bubble wrap and a stiff envelope for flat prints.

Best for canvases and framed art

Double Wall Cardboard Boxes

Corrugated boxes with two layers of fluting, stiffer than single wall, for fragile or high value goods.

• Sizes from 9 x 6 x 6" to 24 x 24 x 24"
• Supplied flat
• Minimum order 5 boxes for most sizes

From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT)

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Best for wrapping canvases and frames

Large Bubble Wrap

Large 25mm bubbles cushion bulky items and fill the space around them in the box.

• 25mm bubbles
• 50m rolls
• 300mm or 500mm wide

From £9.00 ex VAT (£10.80 inc VAT)

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Best for posting unframed prints flat

Board Back Envelopes (Do Not Bend)

A stiff board back and a printed Do Not Bend warning keep prints and photos flat in the post.

• C4 (324 x 229mm) takes A4 flat
• C5 and C6 for smaller prints
• Boxes of 125 (C4, C5) or 250 (C6)

From £12.00 ex VAT (£14.40 inc VAT)

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• Board Back Envelopes come in C4 (324 x 229mm), C5 (229 x 162mm) and C6 (162 x 114mm), each with a printed Do Not Bend warning.
• The C4 envelope takes an A4 print flat, and C4 and C5 come 125 to a box.
• Transparent OPP Bags run from 6.5 x 9" to 18 x 22" in packs of 100.
• Large Bubble Wrap has 25mm bubbles on 50m rolls, 300mm or 500mm wide.
• Double Wall Cardboard Boxes run up to 24 x 24 x 24" and arrive flat.
• Fragile labels measure 89 x 32mm, with 1000 on a roll.

Prints Packaging for Unframed Work

Post an unframed print flat: slide it into a clear OPP bag, then into a board back envelope one size up from the print. That keeps it clean, dry and uncreased.

The bag goes first. Transparent OPP Bags are glossy and crystal clear, so the buyer sees the print as soon as the envelope opens, and the print stays free of dust and fingerprints on the way. Handle prints with clean, dry hands, or wear cotton gloves for fine art paper.

The envelope does the protecting. Board Back Envelopes have a stiff board back, and the printed Do Not Bend warning asks anyone handling the envelope to keep it flat. Each C size takes one A paper size without folding.

A board back envelope has one stiff side. For a signed or limited edition print, cut a piece of card the same size as the print and lay it on the front of the bag before it goes in, so both faces are stiff. Our guide to postal envelopes compares board back and capacity envelopes in more detail.

Best for keeping prints clean and dry

Transparent OPP Bags

Crystal clear, glossy polypropylene bags that keep prints free of dust and fingerprints.

• 10 sizes, 6.5 x 9" to 18 x 22"
• 9 x 12" (228 x 305mm) fits A4 flat
• Packs of 100

From £2.50 ex VAT (£3.00 inc VAT)

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Poster Packaging Without a Tube

We do not sell poster tubes, so the way to post a poster with our materials is flat, between two panels of stiff card, inside a double wall box. A flat poster also arrives without the curl that a rolled one keeps for a while after unrolling.

1. Put the poster in an OPP bag. The 14 x 17" bag takes A3, and the 18 x 22" (458 x 560mm) bag suits posters up to that size. Wrap anything larger in clean paper.
2. Cut two panels from a spare double wall box, each a little bigger than the poster on every side.
3. Sandwich the bagged poster between the panels and tape the panels together around the edges. Keep tape off the poster itself.
4. Lay the sandwich flat in the base of a box. A 24 x 18 x 12" box has a 610 x 457mm base, so an A2 poster lies flat in it.
5. Fill the space above with scrunched honeycomb paper or bubble wrap so the panels cannot slide, then seal the box.

The same method works for several posters in one order. Stack them with a sheet of clean paper between each one so the print surfaces do not rub.

Packaging for Paintings on Canvas

Wrap a canvas in a paper layer to protect the paint, then large bubble wrap with extra layers on the corners, and box it in double wall cardboard with padding on every side.

Check first that the paint is fully dry. Thick oil paint can take days or weeks to dry all the way through, and soft paint can pick up a pattern from anything pressed against it. The paper layer matters for that reason. Honeycomb Paper Rolls are 80gsm paper that opens into a cushioning honeycomb when you stretch it, so one turn around the front of the canvas protects the paint surface and adds some cushioning as well.

Best for a paper layer over paint and glass

Honeycomb Paper Rolls (80gsm)

80gsm paper that opens into a cushioning honeycomb when stretched, a paper based alternative to bubble wrap.

• 250m rolls
• 395mm or 500mm wide
• 80gsm paper

From £28.00 ex VAT (£33.60 inc VAT)

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Next comes the bubble wrap. Large Bubble Wrap has 25mm bubbles, which suit bulky pieces. Use the 300mm wide roll for small canvases and the 500mm roll for larger ones, where each turn covers more. Two full layers is a good minimum for anything going by courier. Our bubble wrap guide explains when small bubbles suit better.

Protecting Corners Without Corner Protectors

Corners take the first knock when a box is dropped, and canvas corners dent or split easily. We do not sell corner protectors, so build the corners up yourself. Fold a short strip of large bubble wrap over each corner two or three times before the full wrap goes on. For heavier pieces, cut card triangles from double wall offcuts, fold them into pockets and tape them over each corner.

The back of a canvas needs care too. Pressure on the back pushes the canvas forward and can leave a dent, so lay a sheet of card over the back of the stretcher bars before you wrap. The card spreads any pressure across the frame.

Picture Frame Packaging for Glass and Frames

For a framed picture with glass, tape an X across the glass, cover the front with paper, wrap the whole frame in large bubble wrap and box it with padding all round.

1. Clean the glass, then stick two strips of low-tack masking tape across it in an X, corner to corner. If the glass cracks, the tape helps hold the pieces together so they are less likely to scratch the artwork.
2. Lay a sheet of honeycomb paper or clean paper over the front.
3. Build up each corner with folded strips of bubble wrap.
4. Wrap the whole frame in at least two layers of large bubble wrap and tape the wrap closed.
5. Put a layer of padding in the base of the box, stand or lay the frame in it, then fill every gap until nothing moves when you shake the box gently.

We do not stock picture frame boxes. Picture frame packing boxes are often slim boxes made to the depth of a frame. A double wall box is deeper, so the extra depth gets filled with bubble wrap or honeycomb paper, which adds cushioning on the front and back of the frame. For framed mirrors and other heavy pieces, choose a box that is easy to carry and add a Caution Heavy label.

The jewellery packaging guide covers small, high value items with a similar layered method.

Artwork Shipping Boxes: Picking a Size

Pick the smallest double wall box that takes the wrapped piece plus a few centimetres of padding on every side. A box that is too big lets the art slide about; one that is too tight leaves no room for cushioning.

Double Wall Cardboard Boxes have two layers of fluting, so they are stiffer than single wall boxes and stack better, which suits fragile and high value goods. That makes them good art shipping boxes. They also work as framed art shipping boxes, even though they were not made with frames in mind.

Measure the piece once it is wrapped, then compare those numbers with the box. An artwork cardboard box with a few centimetres spare on each side lets you pad the corners properly. Most sizes have a minimum order of 5 boxes, and every box arrives flat, so stock takes little room until you build it.

Bigger artwork packaging boxes take longer to arrive. The 14 x 14 x 14", 18 x 18 x 18", 23 x 12 x 15", 24 x 18 x 12" and 24 x 18 x 18" sizes go on 2-day delivery only, so order ahead of an exhibition or a busy selling period. Plain brown art packaging boxes also give away nothing about what is inside, which helps when the piece is worth a lot. For general box packing, see how to pack a box for shipping.

Sealing and Labelling Art Parcels

Seal every seam with strong parcel tape, then add Fragile labels on the top and on at least one side, so a handler sees a warning however the box is stacked.

Warning Labels come in two designs. The Fragile label is 89 x 32mm, with 1000 on a roll, which suits glass, framed art and ceramics. The Caution Heavy label is 148 x 50mm, with 500 on a roll, and is the one for large framed pieces and mirrors. A label tells people to take care, but it does nothing to protect the art, so the wrapping inside still has to do that job.

Best for marking art parcels as fragile

Warning Labels

Self-adhesive warning labels on rolls that tell handlers how to treat the parcel.

• Fragile 89 x 32mm, 1000 per roll
• Caution Heavy 148 x 50mm, 500 per roll
• Peel and press by hand

From £10.00 ex VAT (£12.00 inc VAT)

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We do not sell This Way Up labels. If a frame should stay upright, draw clear arrows on two sides of the box with a marker. Take a photo of the piece in its packaging before you seal it, and keep your proof of postage, which helps if you ever need to make a claim.

Art packaging for a small studio usually grows from a few envelopes into a stock of boxes and wrap. Our guide to ecommerce packaging by business size shows what to keep on the shelf as orders grow.

Artwork Packaging Checklist

• Check the paint is fully dry before wrapping.
• Bag every print in a clear OPP bag.
• Post A6 to A4 prints flat in a board back envelope.
• Send posters flat between card panels in a double wall box.
• Put a paper layer between paint or glass and the bubble wrap.
• Build up every corner with extra bubble wrap.
• Tape an X across glass with low-tack masking tape.
• Leave a few centimetres of padding on every side of the box.
• Shake the box gently and fill any gap that lets the piece move.
• Add Fragile labels on the top and one side.
• Photograph the packed piece before sealing.

Stocking Up for Posting Art

An artist or print seller needs only a short list: clear bags and board back envelopes for prints, plus large bubble wrap, honeycomb paper and a few double wall box sizes for canvases and frames. Fragile labels finish each parcel. Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same working day, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free with no minimum order. The envelopes, protective packaging and boxes collections have every size mentioned here.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best artwork packaging for posting prints?

Put the print in a clear OPP bag, then post it flat in a board back envelope. An A4 print fits the 9 x 12" (228 x 305mm) OPP bag and the C4 (324 x 229mm) Board Back Envelope, which has a stiff back and a printed Do Not Bend warning. For a signed or limited edition print, add a sheet of card on the front.

Do you sell picture frame shipping boxes?

No. Pack Solution does not stock picture frame boxes, poster tubes or corner protectors. A double wall box works instead: wrap the frame in large bubble wrap, place it in the smallest box that leaves a few centimetres of padding on every side, then fill the gaps so the frame cannot move.

How do I post a canvas painting safely?

Make sure the paint is fully dry. Cover the front with a layer of honeycomb paper or clean paper, wrap the canvas in large bubble wrap with extra layers on the corners, and lay a sheet of card over the back. Then pack it in a double wall box with padding on all sides and a Fragile label on top.

Should I tape the glass on a framed picture before posting?

Yes. A cross of low-tack masking tape over the glass helps hold the pieces together if it cracks, so broken glass is less likely to scratch the artwork. It does not stop the glass breaking, so the frame still needs paper, bubble wrap and a padded double wall box.

What is the best poster packaging without a tube?

Post the poster flat. Put it in a clear OPP bag, sandwich it between two panels of stiff card cut from a spare box, and pack it flat in a double wall box. The 24 x 18 x 12" box has a base big enough for an A2 poster (420 x 594mm) to lie flat.

What size art shipping boxes do I need?

Measure the piece once it is wrapped, then add a few centimetres on every side for padding. An A3 print (297 x 420mm) lies flat in the 18 x 12 x 11" double wall box, and an A2 poster fits the 24 x 18 x 12" box. Larger framed pieces may need the 24 x 24 x 24" size.

Shop for This Job

• Envelopes
• Protective Packaging
• Cardboard Boxes

Related Guides

• Ecommerce Packaging by Business Size: 10, 100 and 1,000 Orders a Day
• Jewellery Packaging for Posting: Boxes, Pouches and Padded Envelopes
• Postal Envelopes Guide Board Back Capacity
• Bubble Wrap Guide Small Vs Large Rolls
• How To Pack A Box For Shipping

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