Mirror and picture boxes for framed art and glass

Flat, large and fragile is the hardest shape to move. A mirror cannot be squeezed into a normal carton, and a framed print is only as safe as its corners. Picture cartons are made for exactly this problem. They are shallow, wide and stiff, and many styles come as telescoping pairs so one carton fits a range of frame sizes.

At a glance

• Made for mirrors, framed prints and glass panels
• Carried on edge, never flat
• Corner protection and a paper layer on the glass
• Supplies at the Sparks office, Monday to Friday

What the carton is for

A mirror and picture carton is designed for wall decor: mirrors, framed prints, photographs, small chalkboards, glass tabletops and shelves. Because it is shallow, it keeps the piece in a single plane with cushioning on each side instead of letting it slide around inside a deep box. Telescoping cartons come as two halves that slide together, so a single style covers a range of sizes.

Very large mirrors, antique frames and valuable art deserve more than a carton. For those, O'Brien's builds custom crates and moves fine art and antiques with trained crews.

How to pack a mirror or picture

Take your time with the first step, because a frame is only safe when the glass is covered.

1. Lay the piece face up on a clean, flat surface and cover the glass with a sheet of packing paper.
2. Add a layer of bubble wrap or a soft pad over the paper, and wrap the corners with extra cushioning. Corners take the first knock.
3. Slide the piece into the carton, or fit the two halves of a telescoping carton over it.
4. Fill any gaps at the edges with crumpled paper so the piece cannot shift.
5. Tape the carton closed, write FRAGILE, and mark THIS SIDE UP on the narrow edge so the carton rides on its edge.
6. Label it with the room it hangs in.

Why edge-up matters

Glass is strongest when force travels along its thin edge. A mirror loaded face down with weight on top can flex and crack. A mirror stood on its edge, wedged between soft furniture, rides safely. In an O'Brien's truck, flat cartons stand on the long edge and are padded between other items, which is the same advice a customer should follow in a rented van.

Pairing the carton with cushioning

Picture cartons work best next to padding. The bubble wrap page explains which side of the wrap faces the glass and how much overlap to use, and the moving pads page covers wrapping a whole mirror in a blanket before it goes in the truck. A step-by-step version lives in how to pack mirrors and picture frames.

Buying supplies in Sparks

O'Brien's carries a full line of regular and specialty boxes, packing wrap or padding, and tape at 2277 Glendale Ave in Sparks. Call 775-359-6683 to check the counter and to ask for the standard or custom supply price sheet. The free in-home estimate includes 10 free heavy-duty boxes. Run your rooms through the packing calculator to count how many picture cartons your walls need.