Packing glass and acrylic fronted frames for transport: what the sources say and where they differ

This guide draws on four documents we opened for this edition. The US National Park Service (NPS) Conserve O Gram 17/6, dated August 2009, covers packing a small framed two-dimensional object [1]. National Gallery Singapore published a step-by-step article on packing a framed painting, posted 28 November 2019 [2]. An art festival's shipping guide for exhibiting artists (SEAF), revised 6 February 2025, tells them how to pack framed work [3]. Chubb's guide is a basic overview of art packing, shipping and handling [4].

All four were written for artworks, not commercial frame shipments, and none gives a drop-test result or a damage rate. Read them as four published handling guides, not as proof that one method always works. Where they differ, this guide reports each position and does not rank them.

SEAF says to use acrylic instead of glass if possible, because acrylic is more durable and lighter than glass [3]. The NPS guide treats both glass and plexiglas as surfaces that break easily and can damage the object underneath, so both need protection [1]. Chubb gives a glazing rule of its own on materials: pastels should be framed with glass, not plexi, because plexi generally has a static charge that can attract pastel dust [4].

For a buyer, the practical reading is that SEAF prefers acrylic as more durable and lighter [3], yet the other guides still wrap the face of acrylic-glazed frames [2][4], so acrylic does not remove the need for packing. The NPS method is not for charcoal, pastel or soft pencil drawings, and not for framed items without a glass or plexiglas covering [1]. It also asks you to inspect the item first and pack only frames and glazing in good condition, with no cracks or breaks, because further damage may occur in shipping [1].

For the material trade-offs outside transport, such as clarity, weight and cleaning, see our guide to acrylic versus glass glazing. For the frame body itself, see frame materials compared.

Taping is the clearest point of disagreement, so it is worth reading the exact positions side by side.

• NPS: tape the glass or plexiglas surface with a low-tack adhesive tape applied over the entire surface. Taping reduces the chance of shattering and damaging the object underneath. Fold one end of the tape back on itself to make a pull tab for removal [1].
• National Gallery Singapore: with glass, stick glass tape to the glass so the tape holds shards together if it breaks. With acrylic or styrene, it gives no tape step for the acrylic or styrene face (the front is wrapped in acid-free tissue; tape appears only to secure the bubble wrap) [2].
• SEAF: if you must use glass, apply painter's tape (blue tape) across the front. Do not apply tape on acrylic. Try not to tape the frame [3].
• Chubb: for glass, do the same as for plexi (glassine on the face, plastic wrap, sealed seams) and do not tape the glass, as it may have a special non-glare coating [4].

Two rules can be reconciled. Taping clear glass is supported by three of the four guides [1][2][3]. Not taping acrylic is stated outright only by SEAF [3]. National Gallery Singapore gives no tape step on the acrylic glazing [2], and the NPS guide tapes plexiglas [1]. The coating warning from Chubb is the reason to ask your glazing supplier before taping any treated glass [4].

If you cannot confirm the glazing type, treat taping as an open question and resolve it before the packing specification is fixed.

Chubb defines soft packing as typically used for shorter distances and says it does not mean bubble wrap and a shopping bag [4]. The NPS guide is a separate, box-based method. It does not use the term soft packing and does not say what distance it suits. For frames no larger than 16 inches on any edge, it gives this sequence [1]. For larger framed objects it says to use other, more appropriate methods and does not describe them [1].

1. Tape the glazing as above [1].
2. Lay the frame face up on glassine and fold the glassine over it without securing it closed [1].
3. Sandwich the glassine-wrapped frame between two pieces of urethane foam, then sandwich that foam package between two pieces of multi-use corrugated board, filling any depth in a deep frame so it is level with the top [1].
4. Band the layers with strips of folder stock held by masking tape so the stack cannot shift [1].
5. Wrap in bubble wrap, secure with masking tape and tape an identification tag on top [1].

National Gallery Singapore gives a shorter version: tissue over the front, bubble wrap secured with PVC or clear tape, then cardboard corner guards on each corner [2]. Chubb goes further than the other guides and says bubble wrap is best avoided because it can leave marks on all but glassy surfaces, and if it is used it must not touch any part of the artwork [4]. NPS [1] and National Gallery Singapore [2] both use it. In the NPS sequence glassine wraps the frame before the bubble wrap [1], and National Gallery Singapore puts tissue over the front before the bubble wrap [2].

Chubb also advises against excessive tape, says to make pull tabs, and says to avoid staples, which can work loose and cause damage [4].

Corners take the hits. SEAF says to protect frame corners with cardboard or bubble wrap and to build triangular pockets around each corner to pad the frame if it shifts [3]. National Gallery Singapore uses cardboard corner protectors because corners are especially prone to denting and chipping [2]. Chubb adds corner pads after wrapping and sealing if a piece is particularly heavy [4].

Empty space inside the box matters as much as the wrap. SEAF says to fill all extra space with foam chunks or rolls of bubble wrap, and rules out wadded paper because it does not secure art properly in a box, and packing peanuts because they make a mess on opening and will not be reused for repacking the art [3]. It also asks for a sturdy box and notes that a box good only for one-way shipping makes safe return difficult [3].

The NPS guide goes further with double boxing. The wrapped frame goes into a box lined with 2 inches of urethane foam on all four sides and the bottom [1]. That box then goes into a second box lined the same way, which the guide says adds protection from shock and vibration. The outer box is sealed with reinforced tape, with at least three strips across the top extending about 4 to 6 inches down each side [1].

On labelling, Chubb says to mark the face of the work and its orientation with the words FACE and TOP and an up arrow, and not to advertise the contents on exterior labels [4]. It also says to make an inventory list, to note the condition of each package on arrival and, if a shipment looks damaged, to note it on the waybill and take photos [4].

Chubb says crates should always be used for longer transits and describes a crate as a carefully built wooden container with a cushioned interior, not just a plywood box [4]. Chubb adds that crate lids should be tightly sealed and, if possible, held in place with buckles, and that skids should be built into the bottom to support the work and keep it steady [4].

For packing help, Chubb recommends finding a professional art packer through referrals from conservators, auction house specialists, dealers, museum registrars or other collectors [4]. The gaps are listed under "What the sources do not specify" below.

For a business buyer, the useful step is to ask your carrier or packer to state in writing whether your route needs a crate and what it would involve.

Packaging that carries your brand, such as printed boxes and inserts, sits on top of this protective layer. For that side of the job, see our private label packaging and inserts guide.

The list below turns the sources into items a buyer can write into a specification for a carrier or packer. NPS lines both boxes with 2 inches of foam [1]. Our reading, not NPS wording, is that the outer box must be large enough to hold the inner box plus that lining, so ask your packer to confirm dimensions.

1. Glazing type, and whether it has a coating [4].
2. The taping rule for that glazing, chosen from the positions above [1][3][4].
3. Face protection: glassine or tissue over the glazing before any bubble wrap [1][2].
4. Corner protection on all four corners [2][3].
5. Void fill with foam or bubble wrap, not wadded paper or peanuts [3].
6. A sturdy box [3], and double boxing if you follow the NPS method [1].
7. FACE and TOP marking, with no description of the contents on the outside [4].
8. Whether the route needs a crate [4].

The four documents do not define "longer" transits in miles, days or handoffs, and give no crate specification beyond Chubb's description above. They give no drop-test standard or pass level, maximum frame weight for soft packing, tape specification beyond low-tack or painter's tape, or tape dwell time (NPS lists suppliers but sets no specification), effect of tape residue on coatings, foam density, crate wall thickness or acceptable damage rate. Ask for any such figure in writing if a supplier quotes one.

This guide is general information drawn from published handling guides. It is not an engineering test and not insurance advice, so check the terms of your own cargo cover.

ArtzFolio is a private-label manufacturer in Noida, serving businesses and brands only. Our shipping term is EXW Noida, so the transport leg after collection is yours to arrange. Tell us in your enquiry what packing specification your carrier or packer needs, and we will respond within 1 business day. Payment is 50% advance, with the balance as agreed. See pricing, minimums and lead times or contact us. For what EXW Noida means in practice, read our EXW Noida guide.

1. Conserve O Gram 17/6: Packing a Framed Two-Dimensional Object (August 2009), National Park Service, US Department of the Interior. nps.gov (read 2026-11-08)
2. How to Pack a Framed Painting (posted 28 November 2019), National Gallery Singapore. nationalgallery.sg (read 2026-11-08)
3. Art Packing and Shipping Guide (last revised 6 February 2025), Seattle Erotic Art Festival (SEAF). seaf.art (read 2026-11-08)
4. Getting Smart About Moving Your Art, Chubb. chubb.com (read 2026-11-08)