Rates below are from a 2026-07-27 calculator pass on the tube in the example. Framed equivalents multiply these figures several times over.
One rolled painting, quoted live
The description rolled canvas painting in a tube went in alongside Newark, NJ 07102 and Atlanta, GA 30303, and this table came out.
What we typed
Rolled canvas painting in tube
A medium canvas around 3 feet on its long side, rolled into a 3-inch tube. Bigger works need only a longer tube.
Packed box it returned
35.4 × 3.1 × 3.1 in
90 × 8 × 8 cm
Only 1.5 lb (0.7 kg) including the tube.
Route
Newark, NJ 07102
to Atlanta, GA 30303
The cylinder shape and low weight keep this shipment in the cheapest tier the lane offers.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Ground | $11.07 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $16.37 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $16.72 | about 4 business days |
| FedEx | Express Saver | $19.09 | 2-3 business days |
| UPS | 2nd Day Air | $21.05 | 2-3 business days |
Standard Ground beat every alternative by better than five dollars, including the nominally slower Ground Saver. Odd orderings like that appear at the light end of rate cards, and quoting is how you catch them.
Habits of artists who ship weekly
Glassine is non-negotiable
The slick interleaf sheet keeps the paint surface from kissing itself inside the roll. A few cents of glassine protects months of work.
Oversize the tube length
Leave a hand-width of tube beyond the canvas edge on both sides, stuffed with paper. Edge crush is the most common tube injury, and margin absorbs it.
Document before sealing
Photograph the piece, the roll, and the capped tube in one session. Buyers relax, disputes shrink, and your records build themselves.
Questions from artists and buyers
How much does it cost to ship artwork?
Rolled in a tube, our canvas quoted $11.07 to $21.05 from Newark, NJ to Atlanta, GA on 2026-07-27. Framed and glazed pieces price as fragile flat cartons and cost several times more.
Should the canvas roll paint side in or out?
Paint side out, around the widest tube you can find. Rolling paint inward compresses the paint layer and invites cracking; outward, the surface stretches gently instead. Interleave with glassine so nothing sticks.
What happens with the stretcher bars?
Standard bars are cheap and replaceable, so most artists ship the canvas alone and let the buyer restretch locally. If the bars are part of the work, they can go separately as a slim flat parcel.
Does rolled art need shipping protection?
For a piece with real market value, declare it at checkout and keep photos of the work and the packing. The tube is sturdy transport, and the protection covers the scenarios sturdiness cannot.