Crating a Large Painting for Safe Delivery
There’s an art to shipping large paintings - especially when they’re fully assembled, like this 48" x 60" piece - which requires a customized approach tailored to the artwork and its journey. Respecting the collector’s wish to have the piece arrive ready to hang, I created a personalized solution to make that possible.
Before building the crate, I focused on carefully wrapping the painting to ensure it was fully protected. I start with a layer of glassine to shield the surface, add a cardboard front, wrap it in brown paper, secure the corners, and finish with multiple layers of bubble wrap and corrugated cardboard.
For a more detailed look at how I package my paintings, check out my blog post: The Art of Packaging.
Once the painting was fully wrapped, it was time to determine the crate’s dimensions. This step is crucial - the measurements must account for all protective layers, not just the canvas. My husband, who kindly took on the task, carefully measured the wrapped painting to ensure a snug, secure fit.
Materials for the Crate:
To make sure the crate was strong, protective, and tailored to the wrapped painting, we chose materials that were sturdy but still easy to work with. Here’s a list:
Spruce Boards (for the sides): 24 mm x 100 mm
Spruce Lathing (for perimeter support): 24 mm x 48 mm
Plywood Panels (for the front and back): 8 mm thick
Short Wood Screws: 4.0 mm x 25 mm
Long Wood Screws: 4.5 mm x 60 mm
Wood Glue, Bubble Wrap, and Rolled Corrugated Cardboard (for internal cushioning)
Building the Crate: Step by Step
1. Preparing the panels
Spruce lathing strips were cut to fit along the edges of the plywood panels (front and back), creating a raised perimeter for structure and stability. A center support was added due to the size of the painting. The lathing was glued in place and secured with short screws. All screw holes were pre-drilled to avoid splitting the wood.
2. Building the Frame
Side boards were cut to match the dimensions of the fully wrapped painting. These formed the walls of the crate and were assembled using long screws, with each hole pre-drilled for a clean finish.
3. Attaching the Back Panel
One plywood panel was attached to serve as the back of the crate, secured with long screws spaced every 20–25 cm around the perimeter.
4. Adding Interior Cushioning
With the crate depth at 10 cm and the wrapped painting measuring about 6 cm thick, rolled corrugated cardboard was added along the bottom edges to create a cushioned, supportive base.
5. Placing the Painting Inside
The wrapped painting was carefully lowered into the crate and rested securely on the cardboard supports. A double layer of bubble wrap was added over the top to protect the surface and prevent any shifting.
6. Closing the Crate
The front plywood panel was placed on top and fastened with screws, spaced every 20–25 cm and pre-drilled to prevent splitting. With the artwork securely contained, the crate was now ready for labeling and shipment.
Final Touches:
To make handling as clear and safe as possible, the front of the painting was marked directly on the crate. Labels were added to both sides, including:
The printed shipping label
A separate address label for the collector
“Do Not Lay Flat” and “This End Up” handling instructions
I also provided the collector with instruction, to make it as easy as possible to safely open the crate.
Don’t Let Shipping Concerns Hold you Back!
Every painting is prepared with the same care and attention I give to creating the artwork itself. Whether it’s a small canvas or a large statement piece like this one, I make sure each artwork arrives safely, ready to hang and be enjoyed in its new home.
If you have any questions about shipping or are thinking about adding a piece to your collection, I’d love to hear from you.