How to Pack Pictures and Frames for Moving: A Step-by-Step Guide

Framed pictures, artwork, and mirrors are the items most likely to arrive cracked — they’re flat, heavy, and fronted with glass that breaks the moment a box is dropped or stacked wrong. Pack them flat and you’re inviting a crack; pack them on edge with the glass protected and they ride through a move just fine. The same approach works whether it’s a small photo frame, a large canvas, or a full-length mirror.

This guide covers prepping each piece, then packing small frames, large framed art, and mirrors so the glass — and what’s behind it — comes through intact.

Table of Contents

1. What You’ll Need
2. Prep Each Piece First
3. How to Pack Small Frames
4. How to Pack Large Pictures and Framed Art
5. How to Pack Mirrors
6. Labeling and Loading
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
8. Storing Art, Photos, and Mirrors
9. Frequently Asked Questions

What You’ll Need

The right supplies are mostly about protecting glass and cushioning corners.

• Picture boxes or mirror boxes — adjustable boxes built for flat, framed items.
• Painter’s or masking tape for the glass.
• Cardboard corner protectors for frames and mirrors.
• Clean packing paper and bubble wrap.
• Acid-free tissue for valuable artwork that shouldn’t touch ordinary paper.
• Packing tape and a permanent marker.

Prep Each Piece First

Two quick steps before wrapping make all the difference:

• Tape an X across the glass with painter’s tape, corner to corner. It won’t stop a break, but it holds the glass together and contains the shards if it does crack — protecting the art behind it and you when you unwrap it.
• Add corner protectors to the frame, since corners take the hardest hits and are where frames chip and split.

For valuable art, lay a sheet of acid-free tissue against the surface first so nothing presses directly on it.

How to Pack Small Frames

Smaller photos and frames are quick to pack but easy to underprotect. Wrap each one individually in paper, then bubble wrap, taping it closed. Stand the wrapped frames on edge in a box — like records in a crate, the same as plates — rather than stacking them flat. Slide a sheet of cardboard between frames packed face to face, and fill any gaps so nothing slides. Standing them upright keeps downward weight off the glass.

How to Pack Large Pictures and Framed Art

Large pieces need a box that fits them. Picture boxes (also called mirror boxes) telescope to adjust to the size of the frame.

1. Tape the glass, add corner protectors, and wrap the piece in paper, then bubble wrap.
2. Slide it into a picture box sized to the frame, padding any remaining space.
3. For very large or valuable art, build out the box on both sides so the piece floats in the center, away from the walls.
4. Always store and move it standing on edge, never flat — a flat-laid frame is the easiest one to crack.

How to Pack Mirrors

Mirrors pack exactly like large framed art, with the same priorities: tape an X (or a grid, for big mirrors) across the glass, protect every corner, and wrap thoroughly before sliding the mirror into an adjustable mirror box. Keep it upright through the entire move — carried on edge, loaded on edge, and stored on edge. A mirror laid flat or leaned at an angle under any weight is asking to crack.

Labeling and Loading

These boxes need to be obvious and kept vertical.

• Mark every box FRAGILE and GLASS on both faces and the edges.
• Draw an arrow or note which way is up.
• Load framed pieces and mirrors standing on edge, wedged upright between sturdy furniture so they can’t tip or lie flat.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Packing frames flat. The single most common cause of cracked glass — always pack on edge.
• Skipping the tape on the glass, so a crack turns into loose shards against the art.
• Leaving corners unprotected, where frames chip and split first.
• Using ordinary paper against valuable art instead of acid-free tissue.
• Stacking boxes on top of framed pieces, which crushes the glass.

Storing Art, Photos, and Mirrors

Artwork and photographs are among the few household items that genuinely suffer from the wrong environment. Heat, humidity, and temperature swings cause canvases to sag, paper to yellow and warp, and photos to stick and fade — which is why anything you care about shouldn’t sit in an attic, a garage, or a basement between homes.

A climate-controlled 10 Federal Storage unit holds a stable temperature and humidity range, exactly what framed art, antique frames, and photo collections need while you decide where they’ll hang — or while you stage a home and need the walls clear. Packed on edge and kept in a steady climate, they wait in the same condition you left them.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pack picture frames for moving?

Tape an X across the glass, add corner protectors, and wrap each frame in paper and bubble wrap. Pack them standing on edge — not flat — with cardboard between any frames placed face to face.

Should you tape mirrors and glass before moving?

Yes. An X of painter’s tape across the glass holds it together and contains the shards if it cracks, protecting both the piece and whoever unwraps it. Use a grid pattern for large mirrors.

How do you pack large framed art?

Use a telescoping picture or mirror box sized to the frame. Tape the glass, protect the corners, wrap the piece, and pad it so it sits centered in the box. Move and store it standing on edge.

How do you move a large mirror without breaking it?

Treat it like large framed art: tape the glass, protect the corners, wrap it well, and slide it into an adjustable mirror box. Keep it upright the entire time — carried, loaded, and stored on edge, never flat.

Do paintings need climate-controlled storage?

If you care about them, yes. Temperature swings and humidity cause canvases to sag and warp and cause paper and photos to yellow, stick, and fade. A climate-controlled unit holds the stable conditions art needs.

Need a Safe Place for Your Art and Mirrors?

Framed pieces and photo collections need a stable environment, not an attic or garage. Whether you’re between homes, redecorating, or staging to sell, 10 Federal Storage offers clean, secure, climate-controlled units built to protect what hangs on your walls. Browse available sizes, check pricing, and reserve online to lock in current rates.

Find a Storage Unit Near You