Two Chicks Moving | Serving Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero & Bonita Springs | Published October 6, 2026
Framed pictures, paintings, and mirrors break in predictable ways: a corner hits a door frame, glass cracks under the weight of a box, or bubble wrap leaves a pattern in a painting that sat in a hot truck. Almost all of it is avoidable with the right packing. As a mover in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Estero, and Bonita Springs, we pack a lot of art, from family photos to gallery pieces. Here is how to pack artwork for moving, piece by piece.
The Short Answer: How to Pack Artwork for Moving
- Photograph and measure each piece. Take a photo of the front and back and note the size before anything is wrapped.
- Protect the surface. Cover canvas and unframed art with glassine or acid-free paper, never bubble wrap directly on paint.
- Add corner protectors. Slide cardboard or foam corner protectors onto every frame corner.
- Wrap it. Wrap the piece in bubble wrap with the bubbles facing out, or in a moving blanket.
- Box it on edge. Pack it standing on edge in a picture or mirror box sized to fit, with padding on every side.
- Label and load upright. Mark the box FRAGILE and THIS SIDE UP, and load it on edge, never flat under other boxes.
Supplies for Packing Pictures and Paintings
Picture or mirror boxesTelescoping boxes that slide together to fit the piece.
Glassine or acid-free paperFor any painted or printed surface. Never newspaper.
Corner protectorsCardboard or foam, one for every frame corner.
Bubble wrapUsed bubbles-out, and never directly on paint.
Foam board or cardboardTo sandwich canvas and cover glass.
Painter's tapeLow-tack, for glass only.
Moving blanketsFor large pieces and mirrors.
How to Pack Framed Art, Layer by Layer
The best way to pack pictures for moving is in layers, each doing one job. This is how our crews wrap a framed piece:
1. The artwork2. Glassine on the surface, cardboard over glass3. Corner protectors4. Bubble wrap, bubbles out5. Crumpled paper padding6. Picture box, packed on edge
- Clear the back. Remove wall hooks or screw eyes that could scratch other pieces, and tape the hanging wire flat.
- Protect the front. Glassine paper on any painted or printed surface; a sheet of cardboard or a tape X on glass.
- Cover every corner. Corners take most of the hits on a move.
- Wrap it. Bubble wrap with the bubbles facing out, taped to itself, not to the frame.
- Box it with padding. A box a few inches larger than the piece on every side, with paper filling the gaps.
- Label it. FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP, and the room it goes to.
How to Pack Paintings and Art by Type
Different art needs different protection. Choose the type you are packing.
Framed under glass
Glass protected, corners covered, boxed on edge
Glass is the weak point. Cover the glass with a sheet of cardboard cut to size, or apply low-tack painter's tape in a large X. Tape does not stop glass from breaking, but it helps hold pieces together so they do not cut through the art if it does. Never tape the frame face or the art itself. Add corner protectors, wrap in bubble wrap bubbles-out, and pack upright in a picture box.
Canvas and unframed paintings
Glassine on the surface, cardboard on both faces
Nothing should press into the painted surface. Lay a sheet of glassine or acid-free paper over the front, then sandwich the canvas between two pieces of rigid cardboard or foam board slightly larger than the painting. Wrap that sandwich in bubble wrap and box it on edge. To pack canvas pictures for moving, never let bubble wrap touch the paint, since it can leave a pattern in the surface.
Oil and acrylic paintings
Fully dry, surface never touched
Oil paint can take weeks or longer to dry fully, and a painting that feels dry can still be soft underneath. Do not wrap a recent oil painting tightly. Build a sleeve of foam board with a gap in front of the surface, or pack it in a box with spacers so nothing touches the paint. Acrylics dry faster but can still stick to plastic in Florida heat, so use glassine on the front.
Large paintings and art over 40 inches
Mirror box or crate, two people to carry
Large pieces flex and catch on door frames. Use a telescoping mirror box, which slides together to fit the piece, or a custom wooden crate for anything valuable or over about 60 inches on its longest side. Always carry large art upright with two people, one on each end, and plan the route through the house before you lift.
Mirrors
Corners covered, face protected, boxed on edge
To pack mirrors for moving, protect the corners first, then cover the mirror face with cardboard or a moving blanket. Wrap the whole mirror in bubble wrap and pack it in a mirror box with crumpled paper filling any gaps. Mirrors should travel on edge, never flat, and should be loaded between mattresses or other soft, flat items in the truck.
Unframed prints and photographs
Flat between boards or rolled in a tube
Keep unframed prints flat between two sheets of acid-free paper and stiff boards, or in an artist's portfolio. Posters and prints without delicate surfaces can be rolled image-side out and packed in a sturdy tube. Do not roll photographs or anything with heavy paint, since it can crack.
Picture Box Size Calculator
Enter the size of the piece to see what box to get, how much padding to plan for, and whether it is worth crating.
Get a box about 3 to 4 inches wider and taller than the piece and 3 inches deeper than the frame. Telescoping mirror boxes fit most framed art. Consider a custom crate for anything valuable, very large, or with glass over about 48 inches.
box inside size (in)
box type
bubble wrap needed
corner protectors
Planning guide only. Box sizes vary by brand. Nothing you enter here is sent or saved.
For valuable or oversized pieces, our professional packing services include custom crating, so the art travels in a wooden crate built to its exact size.
How to Pack Mirrors for Moving
Mirrors are heavier than they look and have no frame to absorb a hit on the glass. Pack them the same way as framed art, with a few extra steps:
- Cover the face with a sheet of cardboard or a moving blanket before wrapping.
- Use a mirror box sized to the mirror, with crumpled paper in every gap so it cannot shift.
- Take mirrors off dressers and pack them separately, with the hardware bagged and taped to the back.
- Load them on edge, against a flat surface or between mattresses, never flat and never under boxes.
Before You Pack Your Art: Checklist
Ten minutes of documentation makes any claim straightforward if something is damaged. Tick these off as you go.
For valuable pieces, it is worth understanding the difference between basic and full coverage before moving day. Our guide to full value protection vs. released value explains what each one actually pays.
Protecting Art From Southwest Florida Heat and Humidity
A closed moving truck or garage in Southwest Florida can get far hotter than the house, and heat and humidity are hard on art. Oil paint can soften, canvas can slacken and then tighten again, and paper prints can ripple. A few precautions help:
- Pack and load art last, and unload it first, so it spends as little time as possible in the truck.
- Never leave art in a parked car or a garage, even for a day.
- Hang or store art away from exterior walls, windows, and bathrooms once you arrive.
- If art needs to be stored between homes, use climate-controlled storage. Our article on whether you need climate-controlled storage in Southwest Florida explains when it matters.
If you are moving a whole home of art and furniture, our local moving crews wrap every piece and plan the truck so fragile items ride on edge and away from heavy boxes.
Local Area Guide: A Rembrandt Season Opens in Naples
If you are settling into Naples this fall, the art season is starting strong. The Naples Art Institute on Park Street is showing Rembrandt: Masterpieces in Black & White, a collection of prints from the Rembrandt House Museum in Amsterdam, from October 10, 2026 through January 24, 2027.
A short drive north, Artis Naples' Baker Museum opens Florida Contemporary 2026-27 on October 17. The annual exhibition features notable artists working in Florida and runs through June 27, 2027 in the Hayes Hall galleries and across the Artis Naples campus.
Between the two, it is a good time to find inspiration for the walls of a new home. See how our Naples movers help households settle in, from Old Naples to Pelican Bay.
Packing Artwork for Moving: FAQs
How do you pack a painting for moving?
Cover the surface with glassine or acid-free paper, protect the corners, wrap the painting in bubble wrap with the bubbles facing out or in a moving blanket, and pack it upright in a picture or mirror box with padding on every side. Label it fragile and load it on edge.
Should you bubble wrap a painting directly?
No. Bubble wrap pressed against paint, especially in heat, can leave a pattern in the surface or stick to it. Put glassine or acid-free paper over the painting first, then wrap with bubble wrap on the outside.
Should you tape an X on glass when moving pictures?
It can help. An X of low-tack painter's tape does not stop the glass from breaking, but it can hold the pieces together so they do not scratch the art. Never put tape on the frame face or the artwork itself, and still use a box and padding.
How do you pack large paintings for moving?
Use a telescoping mirror box that slides together to fit the piece, or a custom crate for valuable or oversized art. Protect the corners and surface, carry it upright with two people, and load it on edge against a flat surface in the truck.
How do you pack mirrors for moving?
Add corner protectors, cover the mirror face with cardboard or a blanket, wrap it in bubble wrap, and pack it upright in a mirror box with any gaps filled. Mirrors should never travel flat.
Can movers pack my artwork for me?
Yes. Many movers offer packing services that include wrapping, boxing, and custom crating for art and mirrors. Ask for art to be packed separately and labeled so it is loaded on edge and away from heavier items.
Ready to Book Your Move?
Two Chicks Moving is a trusted Mover in Fort Myers, Mover in Cape Coral, Mover in Naples, Mover in Estero, and Mover in Bonita Springs. From family photos to gallery pieces, our crews wrap, box, and crate art so it arrives ready to hang. Browse every community we cover on our areas served page.
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