Shipping fine art, especially shipping artwork internationally, can be expensive, and for good reason. Fine art has value beyond just its monetary value. Pieces of fine art are works of beauty that hold sentimental value along with their price tags. This means you need to be confident that your pieces will be protected during transit, which is where shipping artwork costs can rise.
Trying to balance a good price with a high level of protection when shipping your art is tricky but not impossible. Here are some great tips for keeping your artwork safe in transit while still saving some money.
Shipping art has many variables that can affect the cost. The most obvious variable is how much artwork you plan to transport. Sending out a single piece of art will present more options than shipping several at once. That said, shipping a whole collection will almost always be more cost-effective than sending each piece individually.
You also need to consider the type of art you’re sending. Prints in shipping tubes or flat canvases will cost considerably less than statues or sculptures due to the size, weight, and space each piece occupies.
How you package your art is a crucial part of protecting it. It may be tempting to use cheaper shipping supplies, but poorly packaged art is more likely to be damaged during transit. Accidents can happen, even with the most careful carriers. You need to ensure your packaging can hold up in case of any bumps in the road. Higher-quality packaging will give your art a better chance of arriving intact.
To get assistance with the best type of shipping supplies and how to package your artwork, contact our fine art shipping team for advice.
Don’t just put your art into a crate and ship it out with the first company you find in the search results. You want your shipment to be handled with care, meaning you need to give some care and attention to understanding the risks involved.
Make sure to research the company and packaging products you use. Understand how the elements might affect the art you’re shipping, what can happen in the event of poor handling or an accident, and pay careful attention to any insurance the transportation provider offers. Knowing this will help you to make the right decision when picking packaging and shipping methods.
Insurance is critical when shipping fine art. Hopefully, nothing will go wrong during transit, but knowing you have safeguards if anything happens is reassuring.
Some transportation providers will offer their own insurance as standard, some will offer it as an optional extra, and some may require you to take out insurance with a third party. This will play a key part in which shipping company you choose. Regardless of who provides the insurance, carefully review the agreement to ensure your art is appropriately covered.
When you send artwork abroad, you’ll have to factor customs into your shipping budget. International fine art shipping will incur a customs import fee in most cases. Double-check the customs charges for your destination country so you don’t get surprised by fees, duties, or taxes.
There are a lot of shipping companies out there, but not all of them will be prepared to ship fine art. Working with an experienced fine art shipping company makes the process much easier. They have the experience and expertise to guide you through the entire process. They’ll help get your art from A to B in one piece while ensuring you still get the most cost-effective shipping method.
DTS has worked with museums, antique shippers, and auction houses, arranging their international art shipments with the care and attention it deserves.
We work with you to help ensure the best solution for your fine art shipping needs. Just get in touch today to get started.
Whether you're a company looking to improve one facet of your supply chain, your entire supply chain, or simply looking for a transportation and logistics consultation, we can help.
19829 Hamilton Avenue
Torrance, CA 90502