Art Packaging, Crating & Freight

Q: When does artwork need a wood crate instead of soft packing?

Crates are the right call for glass-glazed pieces going by freight, high-value or irreplaceable work, international shipments, and anything oversized or dimensional. Soft packing in double-wall cartons is usually sufficient for smaller framed pieces shipping domestically by parcel carrier.

Q: Do you handle international shipping?

Yes. We have packed and shipped hospitality art projects internationally for decades. We build crates to the export requirements of the destination country and coordinate with freight forwarders experienced in art transport.

Q: Can you pack art you did not frame?

Absolutely. Bring the piece to us — or ask about pickup — and we will pack or crate it to the same standard as our own production work.

Q: Is the shipment insured?

Carrier coverage and declared-value options vary by shipping method — we will walk you through what protection applies to your shipment and how to declare value appropriately.

Packaging, Crating & Freight Services

Monarch Art & Frame, Inc. is known industry wide for its Packing, Crating & Freight Services. Here at Monarch we take pride in making sure that all products we produce are packed and shipped in the safest and most efficient way to assure arrival to the final destination in perfect condition. Our level of Quality Control and the efficiency of our Internal Systems over the years have resulted in negligible freight issues. Whether a volume order or individual items, you can rest assured that your product will arrive on time and as if it just left our facility.

Packing

Box & Palletize

Perfect for multiple orders, Box & Palletize is a method used to pack multiple units in boxes and secure to wooden pallets, avoiding the rigors of handling by human hands. This method has proven to be extremely cost effective and safe.

Individual & Small Quantity Packing

Packing smaller quantities is an art and usually requires additional padding as well as some forethought into the framing requirements. Most freight carriers have restrictions when shipping glass packed in cartons. In these instances, our staff is trained to recommend in advance that all artwork be framed with acrylic glazing to avoid breakage and potential damage to artwork. Special care is always taken to envelop the artwork with materials that keep it suspended and padded on all six sides of a carton.

Flat Pack & Tube Pack

For orders of printed flat artwork, Monarch also offers 2 separate types of packing, Flat Pack for volume orders and Tube Pack for smaller quantity orders.

Crating

When shipping extremely large artwork and/or mirrors, as well as irreplaceable or original artwork, Crates become a necessity. At Monarch we recognize the need to fulfill all packing requirements. We not only use the finest wood for crating, but we also employ experienced carpenters to build our crates. Likewise, if Certified/Fumigated crates are required for International Shipment, Monarch and its affiliates offer this service.

Freight Services

As a benefit of our volume at Monarch, our freight carriers allow us the largest discounts available in the freight industry. Whether shipping a single carton or several pallets, we require several quotes from competing carriers that insure the most cost effective pricing for your projects.

When it comes to Packing, Crating & Freight Services… Go with the Leader! Monarch Art & Frame, Inc.

Artwork gets damaged in transit far more often than it gets damaged on the wall. After three decades of shipping framed art, mirrors, and sculpture for hospitality projects around the world, we know exactly how to pack a piece so it arrives the way it left. We offer professional packaging, custom wood crating, and freight coordination from our Van Nuys facility.

Soft packing: glassine, corner protection, foam, and double-wall cartons for framed pieces and canvases.
Custom wood crates: built to the piece, with foam-lined interiors and skids for forklift handling.
Multi-piece project packing: hotel and healthcare installations packed by room, floor, or phase for clean receiving on site.
Freight coordination: domestic and international shipping arranged with carriers experienced in fine art and fragile freight.

Who Uses This Service

Designers and purchasing firms shipping complete art packages to properties out of state or overseas. Galleries and artists sending sold work to collectors. Families relocating with art and mirrors they care about. And anyone who bought a large piece and has no safe way to get it home — we can pack and ship it, and arrange pickup where the piece warrants it.

If we framed or printed the piece, packing is seamless — it goes straight from our production floor into its crate without an extra trip. We also pack and crate work produced elsewhere.

Pricing & Timing

Packing is priced by piece size and method — soft-pack for most framed work, crating for high-value, fragile, or international shipments — plus the carrier freight charge. Custom crates are built to order, so tell us your ship date and we will confirm whether it is workable.

30+ yearsFraming and printing in Los Angeles
One facilityPrinting, framing, mirrors, and crating in-house
4 industriesHospitality, healthcare, corporate, and residential
1 to 10,000Single pieces through full-property rollouts

Service Area — Los Angeles & Southern California

Our packing and crating department works out of the same Van Nuys facility as the frame shop, so most Los Angeles work never leaves the building between framing and freight. We also collect from galleries in Culver City and Downtown Los Angeles, studios in Burbank and North Hollywood, and residences across the Westside and the San Fernando Valley.

If you searched for art crating near you before a move, an art fair, or an install, call with the dimensions and the destination. We are minutes from the 405 and close to LAX, which keeps both domestic and international shipments simple.

Van Nuys
Sherman Oaks
North Hollywood
Beverly Hills
West Hollywood
Santa Monica
Culver City
Los Angeles

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to crate and ship artwork?

Two components: our packing or crating charge, which depends on the piece size and the protection level it needs, and the carrier freight charge, which depends on size, weight, destination, and declared value. We quote both up front so there are no surprises.

When does artwork need a wood crate instead of soft packing?

Do you handle international shipping?

Can you pack art you did not frame?

Is the shipment insured?

Get a Crating & Freight Quote

Send dimensions, weight, and destination and we will quote the crate and the freight together, so you see the real landed cost before you commit.

Request a Free Quote Call (818) 373-6180