How to choose a
painting crate.

A painting may have spent months in the studio, but the journey to an exhibition, a buyer or a new home often comes down to a few hurried decisions. How will it be carried? Will the frame move inside its packaging? What happens when it reaches a narrow doorway?

A wooden crate is one way to give a painting a rigid outer layer of protection. The right choice depends on the artwork, its condition and the journey. This guide will help you gather the information a crate maker and an art transporter need before the work leaves your hands.

When might a painting need a wooden crate?

A purpose-made crate is worth considering for a large or fragile painting, an intricate frame, a valuable work, repeated handling or a longer journey. It can provide a rigid structure and space for supports designed around the work. A smaller, robust piece may be suited to other packaging; there is no single answer for every painting.

Begin with the condition of the work rather than its price alone. Loose or flaking paint, a delicate frame, glazing, a recently completed surface or an unusually heavy piece can change the plan. If you are unsure whether the painting is stable enough to move, consult a conservator before handling or packing it. The Canadian Conservation Institute’s guidance on wrapping paintings explains why some works need specialist preparation.

Measure the complete artwork, not just the canvas

For a framed painting, measure the outside of the frame at its widest points. For an unframed canvas or panel, measure the outer edges of the work. Record all three dimensions in centimetres:

• Height and width: include any frame, moulding or protruding details.
• Depth: include the frame and anything projecting from the back, such as fittings or hanging hardware.
• Weight: provide an estimate if you know it, or flag that the piece is particularly heavy.

Measurements of the artwork are the starting point, not the finished crate size. The design needs to account for supports, protective layers and a way to get the work in and out. Share photographs of the front, side and back if possible. Mention glazing, delicate ornament, loose fittings and anything that must not be touched.

Think about support inside the crate

A strong outer case is only part of the picture. The artwork also needs suitable support inside it, so that normal handling does not allow it to shift. The shape of the frame, the surface of the work, its weight and the direction in which it will travel all matter.

Discuss where the piece can safely be supported and where space must be left. A projecting frame or sensitive surface may require a different arrangement from a plain stretched canvas. Materials should be selected for the particular artwork and the duration of use; do not assume that foam, plastic or wrapping can touch a painted surface safely. The Canadian Conservation Institute’s packaging guidance discusses contact materials and transit hazards in more detail.

Ask how the crate opens, how the artwork will be removed and whether you need to reuse the crate. The person receiving the work should understand the opening method and have enough space and help to handle it safely.

Plan the route as well as the crate

In London, an artwork might travel from a studio to a gallery, pass through a loading bay, enter a lift and then be handled again at its destination. Tell your transporter the artwork dimensions and the expected external crate dimensions and weight once these are confirmed. Check access at both ends: doors, stairs, lifts, parking and the number of people needed to move the crate.

For a longer or international journey, share the route and handling plan early. If solid wood packaging will cross borders, destination rules may require treatment and an ISPM 15 mark. Plywood and other processed wood are treated differently under UK guidance, but a case may contain both processed and solid wood components. Check the whole specification with your crate maker and freight provider; do not assume a crate is compliant simply because it is wooden. See the UK government’s guidance on wood packaging for import and export.

Painting Crate is London-based and makes bespoke wooden crates for paintings. We do not provide transport, collection, delivery or shipping, so arrange those separately with an appropriate provider.

What affects the cost of a painting crate?

Size is a useful starting point, but depth, materials, internal supports, weight, reuse and the detail of the specification can all influence the price. A crate for a deep, ornate frame is not necessarily equivalent to one for a flat panel of the same height and width.

On our guide prices page, you can see illustrative examples. They are not fixed quotes: the final proposal depends on the artwork and the agreed specification. Share the intended use and timing when you enquire so those details can be considered from the beginning.

A short checklist before you enquire

1. Note the outside height, width and depth of the work, including its frame and fittings.
2. Describe the type of painting, its frame, glazing and any fragile areas.
3. Take photographs if it is safe to do so, and mention any known condition concerns.
4. Say where the crate will be used, whether it needs to be reused and when it is needed.
5. Check the route and agree the packing and transport arrangements with the people handling the work.

You do not need to have every answer before starting a conversation. A clear picture of the artwork and its intended journey is enough to begin.