How to Pack Artwork Safely When You Move

Artwork is one of those things that survives a move beautifully or not at all. A painting either arrives looking exactly as it did on your old wall, or it arrives with a cracked frame, a scuffed surface, or a tear in the canvas. There is rarely a happy medium, and the difference almost always comes down to how it was packed.

Whether it is an inexpensive framed print or a piece with real value, art deserves a few extra minutes of care. New Zealand moves often involve long drives, winding roads, and sometimes a ferry crossing, all of which mean vibration and bumps. This guide explains how to pack each type of artwork so it makes the journey in one piece.

Why Artwork Needs Special Treatment

Art is vulnerable in ways that ordinary furniture is not. A few specific weak points cause most of the damage:

• Glazing. Glass and acrylic over framed pieces can crack or shatter, and broken shards then scratch the artwork underneath.
• Corners and frames. Frame corners take the brunt of every knock. A dropped or bumped piece usually shows it first at the corner.
• Painted surfaces. Oil and acrylic paint can smudge, lift, or pick up imprints if something presses against the surface, especially in warm weather.
• Canvas tension. A stretched canvas can dent or tear if pressure is applied to the face or if it flexes during transit.

Understanding where a piece is weak tells you where to add protection. Pad the corners, support the glass, and never let anything press flat against a painted surface.

Materials You Will Need

Gather everything before you start so you are not improvising halfway through. For most household artwork you will want:

• Glassine paper or acid-free tissue. This goes against the surface of the art. It will not stick to paint or leave marks the way plastic or newspaper can.
• Bubble wrap. For the outer cushioning layer once the surface is protected.
• Painter's tape. Low-tack tape for the X pattern across glass. Never put tape directly on a frame finish or artwork.
• Cardboard corner protectors. Either purpose-made foam corners or pieces you cut and fold from cardboard.
• Picture boxes or flat cartons. Boxes designed for framed art, or sturdy flat cartons that fit the piece snugly.
• Stiff cardboard sheets. For sandwiching flat pieces and creating separators between multiple works.
• Moving blankets or clean old sheets. For wrapping larger pieces.
• A marker pen. For labelling every package clearly.

You will find most of this at Bunnings, Mitre 10, or a packaging supplier. For a valuable piece, a custom-built wooden crate is worth the cost, and a good framer can often help arrange one.

Before You Pack: Document Every Piece

Take clear, well-lit photographs of every artwork before it goes anywhere near a box. Capture the front, the back, and any existing marks or wear. This record matters for two reasons: it proves the condition the piece was in before the move, and it gives you something to refer to if you ever need to make an insurance claim. It only takes a few minutes and it is worth doing every single time.

While you are at it, note any pieces of real value. You will treat those differently, and you may want separate insurance cover for them.

How to Pack Framed Art With Glass

Framed pieces behind glass are the most common artwork in NZ homes and the most likely to break. Work through these steps:

1. Tape an X across the glass. Run strips of painter's tape corner to corner in an X shape. If the glass does break, the tape holds the pieces together instead of letting them slide into the artwork.
2. Cover the surface. Lay a sheet of glassine or acid-free tissue over the front so nothing rubs directly against the glass or frame.
3. Protect the corners. Fit foam or cardboard corner protectors on all four corners. This is where almost all frame damage happens.
4. Wrap the whole piece. Wrap the framed work in bubble wrap, with extra layers over the corners, and tape the bubble wrap to itself rather than the frame.
5. Box it. Slide the wrapped piece into a picture box or a snug flat carton. Fill any gaps with crumpled paper so it cannot shift.
6. Label it. Mark the box "FRAGILE, ARTWORK, THIS WAY UP" and note which side faces out.

How to Pack Unframed Canvases

A stretched canvas with no frame needs a slightly different approach, because bubble wrap pressed straight onto wet-looking or textured paint can leave an imprint.

1. Cover the face first. Lay a sheet of glassine or wax paper over the painted surface. Secure it only on the back edges of the canvas, never across the front.
2. Add corner protection. Fit cardboard corners over each corner of the stretcher frame.
3. Wrap in bubble wrap. Now the bubble wrap can go on, because the surface is already protected by the paper layer underneath.
4. Sandwich it. Place the wrapped canvas between two sheets of stiff cardboard cut slightly larger than the piece, and tape the sandwich together.
5. Box it upright. Stand the canvas in a flat carton and pad any gaps.

Never stack canvases face to face, and never bundle several artworks together loosely. Each piece travels best on its own with its own protection.

Packing Multiple Pieces and Loose Prints

If you have several small framed pieces or unframed prints, pack them upright on their edges, like records in a crate, with a stiff cardboard separator between each one. Standing pieces upright is far safer than laying them flat and stacking, because flat-stacked art takes the full weight of everything above it.

Loose prints and works on paper should go flat between two sheets of cardboard, taped closed, and ideally inside a folder or portfolio. Keep them dry and away from anything that could crease them.

Loading and Transport

Even perfectly packed art can be damaged by careless loading. A few rules for transport:

• Artwork travels upright, resting on its long edge, never flat under other boxes.
• Keep it away from heavy items that could shift and crush it.
• Wedge it so it cannot move. Use moving blankets or boxes to brace pieces so they do not slide or vibrate against anything.
• Use an enclosed vehicle. Art should never travel on an open trailer or ute tray, where weather and road debris can reach it.

This is where the right driver matters. A driver with an enclosed van and experience handling fragile loads will treat your art differently from someone shifting a load of timber. Our guide on shipping fragile items safely goes deeper into careful transport for delicate goods.

What Does It Cost to Move Artwork in NZ?

The cost of transporting artwork depends on size, distance, how many pieces there are, and whether anything needs custom crating. As a rough guide:

Job	Typical cost range	Notes
Single framed print, local	$40 to $90	Short distance, standard size
Single large painting, between cities	$100 to $250	Longer routes and bigger pieces cost more
Several framed pieces moved together	$120 to $300	Often cheaper per piece than separate jobs
High-value work needing a crate	$250 to $600+	Custom crating and specialist handling add up

The accurate way to find your price is to describe the job and let drivers quote. When you post your job on SoundMove, you list the pieces, the distance, and any handling notes, and identity-verified drivers bid on it. Because drivers compete for the work, you get a fair price rather than a single fixed rate, and posting is free.

Insurance for Valuable Artwork

Cover for goods in transit varies a lot, and per-item limits are often lower than people assume. Do not guess at what is covered. Before the move:

• Ask the driver what cover applies. Ask in your listing for drivers to state what transit insurance they carry, and what it would and would not pay out on, so you can compare before you accept a bid.
• Confirm with your own insurer. Some contents policies extend to items in transit and some do not, and valuable artwork often has to be listed separately. A quick call tells you where you stand and whether a specialist art policy is worth it.
• Keep your documents handy. Valuations, receipts, and your pre-move photographs all support a claim if you ever need one.

There is also the SoundMove Guarantee, which contributes up to NZ$500 towards your insurance excess on an accepted insurance claim, subject to the terms on that page. It is a contribution towards an excess rather than insurance in its own right, so it sits alongside proper cover instead of replacing it.

It is a short conversation to have upfront, and it saves a great deal of stress if something goes wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I stop bubble wrap from sticking to a painting?

Never put bubble wrap directly against a painted surface. Cover the artwork first with glassine paper or acid-free tissue, which will not stick or leave marks. The bubble wrap then goes over the paper layer. This is especially important for oil and acrylic paintings in warm weather.

Should artwork travel flat or upright?

Upright, resting on its long edge. Flat-stacked artwork takes the weight of everything above it, which is how frames crack and canvases dent. Stand each piece on its edge and brace it so it cannot slide or tip during the drive.

Do I need a special box for framed art?

A purpose-made picture box is ideal, but a sturdy flat carton that fits the piece snugly also works well. The key points are corner protection, surface protection, and filling any gaps so the piece cannot move inside the box.

How much does it cost to move a painting in NZ?

A single framed print moved locally might cost $40 to $90, while a large painting between cities is more like $100 to $250. Several pieces moved together are often cheaper per piece. Posting your job and receiving bids gives you an accurate price for your specific artwork.

Get Your Art There in One Piece

Packing artwork well is mostly about respecting where each piece is weak: protect the glass, pad the corners, keep anything from pressing on the painted surface, and never let art travel flat under other boxes. Document everything with photos first, and sort out insurance for anything valuable before the move.

When it comes to transport, choose carefully. Post your job on SoundMove, mention that you are moving artwork and need an enclosed vehicle, and let verified drivers bid for the work. You get a fair price and a driver who will handle your pieces with the care they deserve.