Packaging Guidelines

Why this matters

Once you mark an order shipped, it's in the hands of J&T Express, JRS Express, LBC Express, Ninja Van or 2GO Express until it reaches the buyer. Payment is still sitting in escrow at that point (see the Return & Refund Policy) — if the piece arrives damaged, that's valid grounds for a refund, which comes out of the sale rather than an insurance claim. Good packaging is the single biggest thing you control to make sure that doesn't happen.

What you'll generally need

• Glassine or acid-free tissue paper — anything that touches the artwork's surface should be archival quality
• Plastic sheeting, poly wrap, or a heavy plastic bag, to seal out moisture
• Bubble wrap, at least two layers
• Foam board (½″ thick) or two-ply cardboard, for a firm sandwich around flat work
• Cardboard corner protectors
• A sturdy cardboard box, sized with 2–3″ of buffer space on every side
• Packing tape, and a permanent marker or “FRAGILE” labels

If your work uses paint, confirm it's fully dry before you package it — paint can look dry on the surface while still curing underneath, and how long that takes depends on the medium. Packaging a piece too soon is one of the most common causes of transit damage.

Flat, unframed work (paper, canvas panel, board)

1. Wrap the piece in glassine or acid-free tissue paper. Handle it with clean hands or cotton gloves — avoid touching the surface directly.
2. Tape a folded paper corner pocket over each of the four corners for extra padding at the most vulnerable points.
3. Sandwich the wrapped work between two sheets of foam board (or two-ply cardboard) slightly larger than the piece, taped shut around the edges — this keeps it rigid and stops it flexing in transit.
4. Wrap the whole board sandwich in a layer of plastic sheeting or a plastic bag, sealed with tape, to keep out moisture.
5. Add a layer of bubble wrap around the outside, and corner protectors on the corners.
6. Box it with 2–3″ of clearance on every side, and fill the gap with more bubble wrap or crumpled paper so nothing shifts.
7. Seal the box with the H-taping method (one strip along the center seam, two more across it, forming an H) and mark it “FRAGILE.”

Framed work

Same core steps as flat, unframed work, with two additions: if the frame has glass or acrylic, tape a large “X” across it with painter's tape first (keeps shards together if it breaks) and sandwich the pane separately in its own piece of foam board before it goes in the box — don't let glass rest directly against the artwork. Use a sturdy box (not the frame's original packaging alone) with real buffer space on all sides, not just at the ends.

Rolled canvas or paper

Only roll work that's confirmed fully dry, and never roll tightly — that alone can crack paint or crease paper. Sandwich the piece between two sheets of glassine or acid-free paper first, then roll it around a smaller inner tube (paint or image side facing out) for support, and slide that into a rigid mailing tube with end caps. Wrap a layer of bubble wrap around the inner roll before it goes in the outer tube, and pad both ends so nothing can shift and crush an edge. Seal the caps with tape and mark the tube “FRAGILE.”

Sculpture and other 3D work

There's no single set of steps that fits every sculpture — the right approach depends heavily on the material, weight, and how delicate it is. As a general shape: wrap the piece fully in several layers of bubble wrap (more on any thin or protruding elements), then box it with a deep bed of crumpled paper underneath and all around — the box should have 2–3″ of clearance on every side, with extra cushioning below since gravity settles packing material during transit. If your piece has a detachable base, pack it in the same box.

Oversized or unusually fragile pieces

J&T Express, JRS Express, LBC Express, Ninja Van and 2GO Express are parcel couriers, not a freight service — there's no custom-crate pickup option, unlike some international marketplaces. If your piece's longest side is over 59 in, or it's simply too delicate to trust to standard parcel handling, don't try to force it through the normal flow — email us before you package or ship it, so we can work out the right approach with you.

Before you hand it off

Take a few dated photos before the courier picks it up: the fully packaged piece with the shipping label attached, the box dimensions against a tape measure, and the packaging materials used. If a buyer later reports damage in transit, these photos are how we can tell what actually happened and resolve it fairly for both of you — keep them until the order is complete.