How to Crate Artwork for Moving: Custom Crating vs. Standard Packaging

When a painting, sculpture, or valuable decorative piece needs to move, one of the most consequential decisions is how to package it. The range of options — from soft packing with blankets and foam to museum-grade custom wooden crates — varies dramatically in cost, complexity, and level of protection. Choosing the wrong method can result in damage that isn't discovered until the piece is unwrapped at the destination.

This guide explains how professional art crating works, when custom crating is warranted, and how it compares to standard soft packing — so you can make an informed decision about your collection.

The Spectrum of Art Packaging

Art packaging exists on a spectrum, from minimal soft protection to maximum rigid enclosure. Here's how the levels break down:

Level 1: Blanket and Pad Wrapping

The most basic form of art protection is soft wrapping — moving blankets, foam padding, and protective wrap applied to the exterior of framed works. This method is appropriate only for lower-value framed pieces with significant structural integrity and robust glazing.

Blanket wrapping alone should never be used for:

• Unglazed oil or acrylic paintings
• Works with fragile surfaces (pastel, charcoal, impasto paint layers)
• Pieces with significant monetary or artistic value
• Any work being transported over long distances

Level 2: Soft Packing with Conservation Materials

A significant step up from blanket wrapping, soft packing with conservation materials is appropriate for mid-range works and involves:

• Glassine or acid-free tissue applied directly to the painted or coated surface
• Polyethylene foam wrapped around the piece to provide cushioning
• Corner and edge protectors at the four corners of frames
• Custom-fitted box (either cardboard or foam board) that eliminates movement within the package

This method protects against minor impacts and surface contact but offers limited protection against significant shock, compression, or structural stress. For works valued under approximately $10,000–$15,000 in good structural condition, this is typically the appropriate and cost-effective approach.

Level 3: Travel Frames and Mirror Boxes

For framed works with glazing, a mirror box or travel frame provides a rigid outer structure that prevents the glazing from flexing or shattering during transit. Mirror boxes are custom-sized to the piece and are a step between soft packing and full wooden crating.

Level 4: Custom Wooden Crates

Custom wooden crates represent the highest standard of art packaging for transit. They are built to the precise dimensions of the specific piece, with interior foam or cushioning that immobilizes the work completely — eliminating all movement within the package.

How Custom Wooden Crates Are Built

A properly built custom art crate is a precision product. Here is what goes into professional crate construction:

Materials

• Kiln-dried lumber: Crates are built from kiln-dried wood to minimize moisture content, which reduces the risk of moisture migration to the artwork
• Foam lining: The interior is lined with archival-quality foam — typically Ethafoam or Volara — shaped to the specific contours of the piece
• Vapor barrier: For climate-sensitive works, a vapor barrier lining is added inside the crate to maintain internal humidity levels
• Exterior grade hardware: Stainless steel screws, bolts, and hasps that can be opened and re-secured multiple times without degrading

Construction Process

1. The piece is measured precisely — including any frame, mat, or mounting hardware
2. A foam interior is cut to create a custom nest that holds the piece without direct wood contact
3. The foam nest is fitted into the crate frame
4. The artwork is placed in the foam nest, tested for movement, and adjusted
5. The lid is secured with appropriate hardware, with a clear "this side up" and handling instruction label on the exterior

Suspension Crates

For particularly fragile or high-value works, suspension crates (also called float crates) suspend the artwork within an outer crate using foam straps or an inner frame — meaning the artwork never contacts the outer crate wall directly. Any impact to the exterior of the crate is absorbed by the suspension system rather than transmitted to the piece. This is the gold standard for works of museum significance.

When Custom Crating Is Necessary

Custom crating is not always required, but there are specific situations where it represents the minimum appropriate standard:

High monetary value: For works above $10,000–$15,000, the cost of crating is a small fraction of the piece's value and provides protection commensurate with that value.

Unglazed fragile surfaces: Oil paintings, especially those with impasto or textured surfaces; pastels; charcoal works; and any piece without glazing to protect the surface.

Long-distance transport: Pieces traveling across the country or internationally are exposed to handling and vibration that soft packing is not designed to withstand.

Works with protruding elements: Sculptures, mixed-media pieces, and assemblages with three-dimensional elements require rigid enclosure to prevent those elements from being compressed or broken.

Climate-sensitive pieces: Works on wooden panels, historic lacquerware, and pieces with known sensitivity to humidity or temperature fluctuations benefit from the enclosed, stable microenvironment a crated piece creates.

Institutional loans or gifts: Any work moving to or from a gallery, museum, or auction house will typically require crating as a condition of the transfer.

Custom Crating vs. Standard Packaging: A Direct Comparison

| Factor | Standard Soft Packing | Custom Wooden Crate | |--------|----------------------|---------------------| | Cost | Lower | Higher | | Protection level | Moderate | Maximum | | Appropriate for | Works under $10K, good condition | High-value, fragile, long-distance | | Climate protection | Minimal | Full (with vapor barrier) | | Reusable | No | Yes (for future transport) | | Stackability | Limited | Yes | | Time to prepare | Same day | 1–5 days fabrication |

The Cost of Custom Crating

Custom crating costs vary based on the size and complexity of the piece. For a standard 24×36 inch framed painting, a custom crate typically ranges from $150 to $400. For a large-format canvas (over 60 inches), a complex three-dimensional sculpture, or a piece requiring a suspension crate, the cost may be $500–$2,000 or more.

Viewed against the value of the work being protected, this cost is almost always justified. A conservator's fee for repairing a damaged painting — if the damage can even be repaired — will typically far exceed the cost of the crate that could have prevented it.

Working with LuxeMove on Art Crating

LuxeMove coordinates professional art crating services in Los Angeles for collectors, galleries, estates, and individuals relocating significant pieces. For moves involving art collections, our team assesses each piece and recommends the appropriate packaging approach — neither over-packaging low-value items nor under-protecting significant ones.

For moves that require custom crating, we work with professional crating specialists who build to museum standards. The crating is coordinated before your moving date so that everything is ready when the crew arrives.

View our specialty moving services to understand the full scope of what LuxeMove offers, or contact us to discuss your collection and get a custom quote.

Final Guidance: What to Ask Your Art Mover

Before entrusting artwork to any moving company, confirm:

• What wrapping materials do you use for paintings? (Correct answer: acid-free tissue, conservation foam)
• Do you offer custom wooden crating for high-value pieces?
• Are your vehicles climate-controlled?
• Do you generate condition reports before and after the move?
• What insurance do you carry for items in transit?

The right answers to these questions are the baseline of professional art moving. LuxeMove's art handling team meets that standard on every move.