Artwork Packed So It Arrives the Way It Left

Our crews move framed prints, mirrors, canvasses, and decorative sculptures regularly throughout Tampa Bay. We use furniture pads and load artwork vertically, never flat under other boxes. What we are not is a fine-art white-glove shipper. If a piece is irreplaceable or worth several thousand dollars, be honest with yourself about whether standard moving protection is enough before booking anyone.

Florida's default carrier liability is 60 cents per pound, which means a 10-pound framed print is covered for six dollars if damaged. Ask us about full-value protection options before moving day, not after.

Corner protectors and a snug, reinforced box matter more than how much bubble wrap you use. A frame that shifts inside an oversized box will crack a corner even if it is wrapped in several layers of foam. Measure the piece, find or cut a box that fits within an inch or two, and fill any remaining gap with soft cloth or crumpled paper so nothing moves in transit.

Bubble wrap is useful for glass, but lay it plastic-bubble-side out against the glass so the bubbles do not leave impressions on the surface over a long drive.

That depends on the piece and your confidence level. Packing your own artwork gives you control and saves money on packing labor. Our crews can wrap and box artwork on moving day, but that adds time to your hourly rate and puts the packing decision under pressure. For anything you care about, packing it yourself the night before is usually the smarter call.

If you do pack it yourself, mark the box clearly on all four sides and the top. A box labeled only on one end gets turned sideways in a truck.

If the canvas is on a stretcher bar, treat it like a framed piece and box it flat with corner protection. Do not stack anything on top. If it is unstretched and you prefer not to roll it, lay it between two rigid pieces of cardboard cut slightly larger than the canvas, tape the cardboard sandwich closed, and mark it fragile on every face of the package.

Rolling works well for posters and flexible prints but can crack oil or acrylic paint on a canvas, especially in Tampa Bay humidity where paint can become brittle. When in doubt, keep it flat.

Want a straight answer for your own move? Call or text (813) 505-2560, request a free estimate, or send us a note. A Brothers estimator replies, not a bot.