Do You Build Custom Crates for Art and Fragile Items?

Do You Build Custom Crates for Art and Fragile Items?

Last updated: October 2026

Yes. We build custom crates ourselves.

Most furniture travels fine in moving blankets. Some pieces don't. A gilt-framed mirror, a marble tabletop, a glass-faced cabinet, a painting that can't be touched. Those need something rigid around them that fits the piece and holds it still. That's what a custom crate does.

Which pieces need a crate

We build crates for oversized, glass-faced, or high-value pieces. That usually means:

• Mirrors, especially large or antique ones
• Marble and stone tops
• Glass panels and glass-fronted furniture
• Framed art and canvases
• Sculpture and other especially delicate pieces

Not every painting needs a crate. A small framed print can travel in a picture carton. The walkthrough or estimate is where we figure out which pieces need what.

Why build them in-house

When we build the crate ourselves, we build it to the piece in front of us, not to a standard size that's close enough. A crate that fits holds the piece still, and stillness is what keeps glass and stone intact on the road.

The heaviest one so far

One of the more memorable jobs was a piece of Chinese art made of concrete. It was tall and thin, and it weighed almost 800 lbs. The shape made it fragile, and the weight made it hard to handle. A custom crate was the only safe way to move it. Blankets alone wouldn't have done it, because a thin concrete piece that heavy can crack under its own weight if it's leaned or supported at the wrong point, and a crate built to its exact shape spreads that weight out evenly for the whole trip. Read can you move sculpture for more on how we handle heavy art.

Estate moves and crating

On larger estate moves, crating is part of the plan from the start. In Winnetka, custom crating is standard in our estate work, for glass and marble as well as mirrors and significant artwork. Our blog on Winnetka estate moves covers how those days run.

Long-distance pieces

A crate matters even more when a piece is traveling across state lines. More miles means more vibration and more time in the truck. Read can you move artwork long distance or out of state.

Coverage for crated pieces

Every move includes our standard coverage, which is based on the weight of each item. For valuable art and antiques, you can buy full coverage insurance through us or through your own insurer.

How it's priced

Crating is part of the estimate. Tell us which pieces you're worried about, and we'll tell you which ones need a crate. Photos help. Measurements help even more. For choosing a mover for art in general, see how to choose an artwork moving company in Chicago.

Custom crating is part of our artwork moving service and our antique furniture moving service, both part of our moving services.

Call (773) 275-4100 or email info@wcmoving.com, and send photos of the pieces that need extra care.