Best Way to Send Artwork by Post in the UK

Best Way to Send Art Prints & Wall Art

If you’re sending canvases or unframed art prints you don’t want to roll, you’ll need to pack them securely to avoid damage.

For art prints, place a sheet of glassine paper front and back before sandwiching the print between two sturdy pieces of cardboard and sealing the edges. You can wrap this parcel with a layer of bubble wrap before placing in a non-bendable mailer.

Canvases should be wrapped in glassine paper, followed by a couple of layers of bubble wrap. Before placing it in the box, you can secure the canvas with a couple of sheets of cardboard for extra protection.

Recorded delivery is the best way to send art prints and wall art. Prices start from just £2.15 exc VAT, and you’ll get a signature on delivery for added peace of mind.

How to Send a Framed Picture

When you’re sending a framed picture by post, you’ll need to protect the glass.

Use painter’s tape in a large ‘X’ across the glass to stop it shattering inwards. You can also add a sheet of glassine paper behind the glass to give the painting even more protection.

Next, add a layer of foam over the glass and add corner protectors to the frame.

Place foam board or sturdy cardboard over the front and back of the frame and then wrap it all in a few layers of bubble wrap.

Finally, put your frame into a sturdy box, fill the empty space with packing peanuts so it can’t move, and then seal with strong packing tape.

If your framed picture is heavy, we can help you find a courier that will accept parcels up to 70kg.

With prices starting from just £2.15 exc VAT, we partner with couriers such as Parcelforce, Evri, FedEx, DPD, and UPS who specialise in handling bulky or heavy items.

Find out how to weigh and measure your parcel for the most accurate delivery quotes.

Our top tips for packaging art for safe shipping are:

• For valuable or delicate artwork, it’s a good idea to double-box for extra protection. The larger box should allow space for at least 2 inches of packing material between them.

• Use corner protectors on frames and sturdy cardboard sheets for canvases.

• Protect the surface of your artwork by always using a sheet of glassine or archival paper as the first layer.

• Label your package ‘Fragile’.

Essential Packaging Materials

Tools you’ll need to get your artwork ready for shipping include:

• Glassine or archival paper

• Bubble wrap

• Foam sheets

• Corner protectors

• Scissors

• Box cutter and blades

• Double walled cardboard boxes

• Strong packing tape

Should you Roll a Painting for Shipping?

The best way to send art prints is by rolling them. Rolling your artwork helps to prevent damaged or bent corners and is a great way to send larger pieces too.

These are our top tips for sending a rolled print:

• Choose a sturdy cardboard tube that is large enough for your artwork with a little space to spare

• Lay a sheet of glassine paper on a flat surface and place your print image-side down on top

• Place another sheet of glassine paper or archival tissue paper over the back of your print

• Roll your print. Always roll your artwork image-side out to reduce surface stress on the image and to help prevent creasing

• Secure the rolled print with a piece of art tape, sticking it to the protective paper, not the print

• You can place the rolled print in a plastic bag or wrap in bubble wrap for extra protection

• Place your print into the tube and put some crumpled tissue in the space at the end to stop it moving around

• Seal the ends with strong packing tape

What Documentation Is Required for Shipping Internationally?

You’re normally required to include a customs form or a commercial invoice when you ship internationally.

It sounds complicated, but we’ll guide you through the process while you’re making your booking.

All you need to provide is:

• Accurate descriptions of the products

• Commodity codes

• Accurate address details

We have lots of resources to help you learn how to send artwork overseas:

• How to complete commercial invoice

• What is a commercial invoice?

• How to fill out a customs form

Or access our International Shipping Hub for more information.

Insurance and Protection for Valuable Artwork

At Parcel2Go, you can cover your parcel up to a value of £10,000 with our Parcel Protection.

Artwork and wall décor, including canvas prints, paintings, and posters, are protected against loss only.

This means that your artwork won’t be covered against any damage that occurs during transit, but it will be covered if your parcel is lost.

Our couriers will always take good care of your parcels, but in order to protect your artwork for its full value if it’s lost during transit, it’s important to take out Parcel Protection.

Some couriers include a level of Parcel Protection with each booking. For example, UPS offers up to £50 of protection with every booking.

You can find out more about protecting your parcel with our helpful article, is Parcel Protection worth it?

Why Send Artwork with Parcel2Go

There are plenty of reasons you should send artwork with Parcel2Go:

• We compare quotes from the UK’s most trusted couriers

• We offer you the cheapest delivery prices backed by our Lowest Price Guarantee

• If you’re sending artwork abroad, we’ll help you complete all the forms you need to sail through customs

• Free parcel tracking

Save even more on our lowest prices when you use Smart Send, or top up with PrePay

Artwork Tracking and Delivery Updates

Every parcel you send with Parcel2Go comes with free delivery tracking. This is a great way to give your customers extra peace of mind when you’re sending artwork by post in the UK or abroad.

It’s easy to track your parcels on our website.

On your confirmation email, you’ll find a unique parcel ID — it will be a number starting with ‘P2G’. Simply enter this on our tracking page to stay up to date with your parcel’s whereabouts.