Standard boxes and bubble wrap are not enough for glass, ceramics, sculptures, mirrors, and delicate antiques. Austin Crate & Freight builds custom wood crates with precision foam inserts that protect your fragile items through every mile of transit.
The leading cause of fragile item damage during shipping is not rough handling — it is inadequate packaging. A ceramic vase wrapped in bubble wrap inside a cardboard box has no suspension from shock. When the box is dropped from 2 feet (a very normal freight event), the item inside absorbs the full impact. Glass shatters. Porcelain cracks. Sculptures chip at the most delicate points — edges, projections, and thin sections.
Custom crating works differently. The item is measured precisely, and a foam insert is cut to match its exact contours. The item floats inside the crate, suspended in foam on all six sides. When the crate takes a shock, the foam compresses and the item absorbs almost none of the impact. This is the same engineering principle used in museum shipping — and it is what we use for every fragile item we crate in Austin.
We also assess the specific vulnerability of each piece before crating. A large mirror requires edge reinforcement. An electronic device needs anti-static foam. A bronze sculpture needs all projections padded individually. There is no one-size-fits-all fragile item crate — and that is exactly why we custom-build each one.
Every fragile shipment goes through the same six-step protection process at our Austin facility.
We measure the item in three dimensions and assess every fragile point — edges, projections, thin sections — before selecting the right foam density and crate design.
Polyethylene foam inserts are CNC-cut to the exact shape of the item. The piece fits snugly with no movement. No packing peanuts, no loose-fill, no shifting during transit.
We build a rigid wood crate around the foam-packed item — not a cardboard box and hope. Wood crates withstand the compression and impact forces of freight handling.
Electronics and sensitive instruments are packed in anti-static foam. Temperature-sensitive items can be packed with thermal insulation for temperature-controlled shipments.
The crate is sealed with hardware-grade fasteners — not packing tape. All six faces are labeled fragile with orientation arrows to minimize improper stacking.
Not every freight carrier handles fragile items well. We match each shipment with carriers who have strong fragile-item track records and offer declared value coverage.
If standard carriers have refused your item, added excessive fragile surcharges, or you simply cannot afford damage, these are the categories where custom crating pays for itself.
Crating costs depend on the item's size, fragility, and destination. As a rough guide:
Ceramics, figurines, small glass pieces — custom foam box or small crate.
Large mirrors, flat-screen TVs, sculptures, chandeliers — mid-size wood crate with full foam insert.
Architectural glass, large sculptures, exhibition-grade artwork — full museum-spec crating.
Standard carriers like FedEx and UPS will accept fragile items, but they are not responsible for damage if the item was not professionally packaged. Their terms of service explicitly state that fragile items shipped in standard boxes with bubble wrap may not qualify for damage claims. For anything valuable or breakable, professional crating is the financially sound choice.
We use polyethylene foam in densities ranging from 1.5 lb/ft³ (for lighter items) to 6 lb/ft³ (for heavy, dense items like stone sculptures). The right density depends on the item weight and fragility. We assess each piece individually and select the appropriate foam grade before cutting the insert.
Yes. We crate fragile items at our Austin facility and ship anywhere in Texas or across the US. Long-distance fragile item shipments are handled with LTL (less-than-truckload) freight carriers that specialize in specialty cargo, not general parcel carriers.
Absolutely. Custom wood crates are reusable if the item needs to be returned or shipped again. The foam insert can be stored with the crate. Many collectors and galleries reuse their crates for years — it is one of the reasons custom crating has a lower cost-per-use than it may initially appear.
A good rule: if the item is worth more than $300, has thin sections that could break, or is irreplaceable (antique, one-of-a-kind), it warrants crating. If the item is a standard appliance or item that is easily replaceable, heavy-duty cardboard with quality foam may be sufficient. Call us and we will give you an honest assessment.
Austin Crate & Freight serves the entire Austin metro — custom crating, white-glove pickup, and specialty freight for items that standard carriers cannot handle.
White-glove furniture shipping and custom crating across Austin and all of Texas. Sofas, dining sets, bedroom furniture, antiques, and pieces too large or fragile for standard carriers.
Tell us what you need to ship and where it is going. We will recommend the right crating solution and give you a quote — usually within a few hours.