To move a painting safely, protect its surface with the right paper, add cushioning outside it, keep it upright on its edge, and carry it with two people. Then keep it out of heat and humidity swings until you reach the new wall. That sequence matters more than any single product, and in South Florida the climate part is easy to overlook.
This guide walks through the full process, from checking a frame to hanging the piece. It also explains when a framed print is a DIY job and when an oil painting, a large canvas or an antique frame is better left to a crew that handles art every week.
TL;DR
- Wrap the surface in acid-free tissue or glassine first, then bubble wrap with the bubbles facing out. Never use newspaper.
- Keep paintings upright on their edges. Never lay them flat in a vehicle, and wedge them so they cannot tip.
- Two people carry anything easel-sized or larger. Hold the frame at the bottom and sides, never by the hanging wire or only the top.
- Temperature and humidity swings often do more harm than vibration, so avoid hot trucks, garages and unventilated storage.
- For large, valuable, glazed or fragile pieces, ask a moving crew for custom packing or crating before moving day.
Table of Contents
- Why paintings get damaged during a move
- Before you pack: sort, inspect and photograph
- What you need to pack a painting
- How to wrap a framed painting, step by step
- Packing materials compared
- Carrying and loading: the part where damage happens
- South Florida's climate and your paintings
- Travel boxes and crates: when a picture box is not enough
- Antiques and ornate frames
- DIY or professional: how to decide
- Our perspective: art moves go wrong at the planning stage
- Let us handle the pieces you do not want to risk
- Hanging and unpacking at the new home
- FAQ
- Sources
Why paintings get damaged during a move
Most paintings are not hurt by the drive. They are hurt by hands. The Canadian Conservation Institute notes that most damage to paintings and frames happens during handling: stains, dirt, paint loss, surface abrasion, dents and larger structural damage.
That tells you where to spend your effort. Good packing reduces how often anyone touches the surface. A clear plan reduces how many times a piece is lifted, stacked, leaned or set down. And a short, direct path from wall to truck to wall beats a long one with stops.
There is also an environmental risk. Researchers at the Smithsonian's conservation institute note that temperature and humidity fluctuations are often more frequent causes of structural damage than vibration. Good packing is not only shock absorption. It also creates a stable pocket of air around the piece that resists outside changes. In Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton or Pompano Beach, a truck cargo area that has been sitting in the sun is exactly that kind of change.
Before you pack: sort, inspect and photograph
Start a few weeks ahead. Pull every framed piece off the walls and sort them into three groups.
- Everyday framed prints and posters. Standard sizes, modest value, glass or acrylic front. You can pack these yourself.
- Original paintings, large canvases and pieces with sentimental or appraised value. Pack carefully, or have them packed for you.
- Antique, ornate gilded or oversized frames, and anything with flaking paint. These need specialist packing or crating.
For each piece in groups 2 and 3:
- Photograph the front, back and corners in good light. If there is ever a claim, dated photos help.
- Look for loose or lifting paint, cracks, a sagging canvas, a loose frame joint or a wire that looks frayed.
- Check that the hanging hardware is secure. If it is not, do not hang the work by it while you pack.
- Note the dimensions, so you can order the correct box or crate.
If you see flaking, lifting paint or a damaged canvas, do not wrap tightly or press on it. Talk to a paintings conservator before moving the piece. Packing material that touches loose paint can pull it off.
Take off watches, rings and bracelets before you handle the work. Jewelry can snag or scratch a frame or surface.
What you need to pack a painting
Buy materials before you start, not halfway through. For a typical framed painting:
- Acid-free tissue paper (for glazed work) or glassine (for unglazed paintings)
- Bubble wrap
- Corner protectors, or folded cardboard corners
- A mirror and picture box, or flat cardboard sheets cut to size
- Painter's or masking tape for the glass, and tape for sealing the outer box
- A marker for labeling
- Clean cotton gloves, if you have them
Our moving supplies, boxes and materials page covers what we offer if you would rather not source everything yourself.
How to wrap a framed painting, step by step
The method below follows guidance from museum and conservation sources. Adjust it for size and value.
1. Protect the glass
If the frame has glass, apply an X of masking tape across the surface. If the glass breaks in transit, the tape helps hold the shards in place instead of letting them fall across the artwork. Keep the tape on the glass only, not on the frame or painting.
2. Cover the surface with the right paper
The first layer should be gentle. The National Gallery Singapore explains that acid-free tissue suits works with glazing, while glassine or silicone release paper suits unglazed paintings, because bare paint can stick to ordinary packing materials. Do not use newspaper. The ink can transfer to a frame or canvas.
Secure the paper to itself, not to the painting or frame. Standard packing tape on a painting or its frame can leave residue that is hard or impossible to remove.
3. Add bubble wrap, bubbles out
Wrap the covered piece in bubble wrap with the bubbles facing outward. That keeps the textured plastic away from the surface and still gives cushioning. Root Gallery adds a caution for temporary moves or storage: bubble wrap can leave imprints on soft surfaces, and some materials react badly to plastic over time. That is another reason the paper layer goes first, and why plastic should not stay on a piece for months.
4. Protect the corners
Corners take the hits. Add corner protectors or folded cardboard before the outer wrap so a dropped edge does not crush the frame.
5. Box or board it
Slide the piece into a picture box sized to fit, or sandwich it between rigid cardboard sheets and tape the sheets together, not to the artwork. Fill any gap with packing paper so the painting does not shift. Mark the box FRAGILE, note which side is up, and add the room it belongs in.
6. Do not stack pictures face to face
Do not put two bare pieces front to back with only a thin sheet between them. A hanging wire, a hook or a rough frame back can mark the other painting. Pack each one separately.
Packing materials compared
| Material | Use it for | Avoid it for |
|---|---|---|
| Acid-free tissue | First layer on glazed pieces | Nothing; it is the safe default |
| Glassine | First layer on unglazed paintings | Long-term wrapping in damp conditions |
| Bubble wrap, bubbles out | Cushioning over the paper layer | Direct contact with paint or soft surfaces |
| Newspaper | Filling empty space in a box of non-art items | Wrapping art; the ink can transfer |
| Standard packing tape | Sealing the outer box | Frames, paintings, or the wrapping touching them |
| Masking tape | X across glass | Bare canvas, paint or finished frame surfaces |
For more on wrapping the rest of your breakables, see our guide on how to pack fragile items like a professional mover.
Carrying and loading: the part where damage happens
Handling is where most harm occurs, so slow down here.
- Use two people for anything easel-sized or larger. The CCI recommends at least two to carry such pieces, balancing the weight at the bottom and sides rather than grasping only the top of the frame or the hanging wire.
- Clear the path first. Open doors, remove rugs, and check stairs, elevators and loading zones. Walking a piece through a tight condo corridor is not the time to find a door too narrow.
- Carry paintings upright. Paintings should travel and be stored on their edges, never flat, per the same CCI guidance. A canvas laid flat can sag, warp or develop pressure points, especially with temperature swings, according to Root Gallery.
- Wedge them in. When loading, secure paintings between heavy, non-shifting items so they cannot tip or slide. Do not lean a painting against a stack of boxes that could move at the first turn.
- Load them last, unload them first. That keeps paintings from being crushed under furniture and gets them into a stable room fast.
- Never set a painting on its hanging wire or corner on a hard floor. Rest it on its bottom edge on a pad.
Professional art handlers often use A-frame trolleys for moving paintings to reduce handling. You do not need one for a few framed prints, but it shows the principle: less lifting, more rolling.
South Florida's climate and your paintings
Humidity is the local variable. The Library of Congress recommends that framed works in long-term storage sit at 35 to 55 percent relative humidity with steady temperatures, and warns that humidity above 60 percent greatly raises the risk of mold that cannot be reversed.
In practical terms for a move around Broward, Miami-Dade or Palm Beach County:
- Do not leave paintings in a parked truck, a car or a garage for hours, especially midday. Heat builds quickly, and a hot cargo area followed by a cool, air-conditioned home is a swing you want to avoid.
- Keep them inside, in conditioned space, until the truck is ready. Bring them out last before loading.
- Unpack gradually. Let a box that traveled through heat rest in the room for a while before you open it, so the surface is not exposed to a sudden change.
- Avoid damp garages and storage units without air conditioning. If you need storage between homes, ask whether the unit is climate controlled. Our guide to when to reserve, pack or skip climate-controlled storage helps you decide, and you can read about our storage and warehousing options.
For temporary storage, the Library of Congress also notes that cycling matters: the ideal for mixed collections is 30 to 50 percent relative humidity, without daily swings of more than 5 percent. Most homes will not hit that exactly, but steady and air-conditioned is far better than variable.
Travel boxes and crates: when a picture box is not enough
A store-bought picture box works for standard frames. For larger or more valuable paintings, conservators use purpose-built containers. Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute paintings conservators developed a reusable, modular, environment-responsive travel box that secures a painting by its frame, so loading and unloading involve less direct contact with the painting surface. It also lowers cost compared with overbuilt single-use crates.
The principle is useful at home: support the piece at the edges, not the face, and keep it still. If a piece is over a size you can control with two people, or its value makes any damage unacceptable, ask for custom packing or a made-to-fit crate instead of improvising.
Antiques and ornate frames
Many readers ask how to move antiques safely, and the answer overlaps with paintings. Gilded frames, carved moldings and old finishes are fragile at the edges and corners. The same rules apply:
- Clean paper against the surface, never plastic or tape on the finish.
- Corner protection and rigid support.
- Upright, immobilized, and out of heat and damp.
- Two or more people for lifting.
Antique furniture adds weight and joinery concerns. Drawers should be emptied and secured, and legs, mirrors and glass tops padded or removed where the piece allows. Heavy and awkward items, like a grand piano, are their own category, and our piano prep guide explains when to call professionals.
DIY or professional: how to decide
| Situation | DIY is reasonable | Call professionals |
|---|---|---|
| Framed prints under glass, standard sizes | Yes | Optional |
| Mid-size original painting with sturdy frame | Yes, with two people and correct materials | If it is valuable or you are moving long distance |
| Oversized canvas or heavy gilded frame | Rarely | Yes |
| Flaking or damaged paint | No | Conservator first, then careful packing |
| High-rise, stairs or tight access | Depends on the route | Yes, if the path is complicated |
| Long-distance move or time in storage | Possible for small pieces | Yes, for crating and climate planning |
If you are unsure whether you are in the first or last row, price out a protected move for the art alone against the cost of the art. A small cost compared with the value of the piece can be money well spent.
Our perspective: art moves go wrong at the planning stage
We move households across Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Miami-Dade and Palm Beach County, and we see the same pattern with artwork. The packing materials are rarely the problem. The problem is a plan that was never written down: nobody knew the elevator reservation window, the hallway turned too sharply for a large frame, or the art ended up in the truck first and under a sofa last.
So we treat art as its own line in the plan. We look at access before the move, including loading zones and building rules in South Florida condos and high-rises, decide who carries each piece and along which route, and put paintings in the load where they will be wedged and upright. We protect floors, walls, doors and stairways along the path so a carried frame does not meet an unprotected corner. And one coordinator stays your contact, so a question about a piece gets a direct answer.
If you are comfortable doing the wrapping yourself, do it with the steps above. If you would rather hand over the tricky pieces, tell us early so the right materials and crew size are planned in.
— Orange Movers Team
Let us handle the pieces you do not want to risk
Our fragile-only custom packing is built for situations like this: you pack the household, and we pack the artwork, mirrors and other pieces that need extra care. For paintings, antiques and instruments, see our piano and special art packing service. We also offer full-service packing and unpacking, custom wooden crating and moving across town through local moving or across the country through long-distance moving.
Hanging and unpacking at the new home
When you arrive, work in a deliberate order.
- Decide where each piece goes before unpacking, and mark the wall if needed.
- Bring boxes into the room and let them rest before opening.
- Cut, do not rip. Slice tape on the outer box away from the artwork, never with a blade pointing at the frame.
- Remove the layers in reverse. Bubble wrap, then the paper, then inspect the piece against your photos.
- Hang using appropriate hardware for the weight and your wall type. Anchors for drywall, studs or masonry differ, and a heavy frame needs hardware rated above its weight.
- Avoid direct sun and vents. Do not hang valuable work over an air-conditioning vent or in a window that gets strong afternoon light.
Keep the packing materials for the first few weeks in case something needs to be rewrapped or moved again.
FAQ
What is the best way to wrap paintings for moving?
Put acid-free tissue or glassine against the surface, then wrap the piece in bubble wrap with the bubbles facing out. Add corner protection and slide it into a fitted picture box or between rigid boards. Tape the outer layers to themselves, never to the painting or frame.
Is packing paper or bubble wrap better for moving art?
You need both, in order. Paper goes against the surface because it will not stick or imprint, and bubble wrap goes over it for cushioning. Avoid newspaper, since its ink can transfer to a frame or canvas.
Can I lay paintings flat in the truck?
No. Paintings should travel on their edges, upright and wedged between heavy items so they cannot shift or tip. Lying flat can contribute to warping, sagging and pressure points, particularly with temperature changes.
How should I store framed pictures during a longer gap between homes?
Choose a stable, conditioned space with steady temperature and relative humidity, ideally within the 35 to 55 percent range recommended by the Library of Congress. Avoid garages and non-air-conditioned units in South Florida. Check that wrapping does not rest on soft surfaces for long, because plastic can leave marks.
When should I hire movers for paintings and antiques?
Hire help for large or valuable canvases, ornate or antique frames, long-distance moves, and any route with stairs, elevators or tight access. A crew can pack, carry and load the pieces correctly, which reduces the handling that causes most damage.
Sources
- Basic Handling of Paintings, Canadian Conservation Institute
- How to Pack a Framed Painting, National Gallery Singapore
- Care of photographs and framed works, Library of Congress
- Adapting Sustainable Practices to Art Transit, Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute
- Art in Transit, Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute
- How to safely move your artworks, Root Gallery