Unfortunately, ‘How much does art transport cost?’ isn’t exactly a straightforward question… There are a number of factors that impact the price of transporting fine art. In this blog, we will go over all the variables affecting shipping costs… And even find out some money-saving tips! Keep reading to find out more.
What Are Art Transportation Costs?
As the e-commerce sector booms, it has led people into a sort of false sense of security when it comes to delivering products with ease. The general impression is that you can order something online with a click and it will arrive at your house in 24 hours.
While this may be true for shipping companies like Amazon, the same does not exactly apply when it comes to shipping fine art.
The price of art transportation directly reflects the additional work and care that goes into delivering these priceless artefacts. The cost is determined by several variables (that we’ll get into), but you’re predominantly paying for safe and timely transportation, expertise and resources offered by art transportation dealers.
It is certainly not the same transaction as ordering from a bulky warehouse for next-day delivery…
There is no denying the fact that shipping artwork is expensive. That said, it isn’t something that you would want to cut costs on either. From damage and breakage to the threat of theft and black-market art dealers, plenty of threats make added protection costs in art transportation a wise investment.
How Much Does Art Transport Cost?: Important Factors To Consider
Answering ‘How much does it cost to transport art?’ isn’t exactly a straightforward question. There are a few variables that can fluctuate the price. Here are some of the factors to consider when transporting art:
Dimensions
Starting off with probably the most obvious factor to consider… The weight and scale of art will alter the price of transport. Some pieces are significantly larger than others, making them more difficult to transport. The more difficult a piece is, the more manpower it will take to transport it safely. Those hours of labour are accounted for in the final cost.
Distance
When art is required to travel a further distance, the cost increases based on the additional fuel needed to complete the journey. Other factors that inflate the price are the additional labour costs from added transportation hours.
Fragility
Some pieces are much more temperamental than others, due to their fragility and sensitivity. Sculptures made from glass or ceramics may require specialised packing and are more expensive to transport.
Mode Of Transport
How much art transport costs also depends on the mode of transport. Art shipments made via air freight tend to be quicker, but a more expensive mode of transportation. If shipping is required overseas, then sea freight is the more affordable method, but this comes at the sacrifice of speed. In some cases, shipping via sea freight can include more handling points, which is important to consider for valuable shipments.
Custom And Duty Taxes
In relation to the above point, any art travelling overseas will need customs duties, taxes and any other relevant import/ export costs to be covered, which will indirectly contribute to the overall cost.
Packing Materials
Depending on the fragility of some art pieces, they require specific packing materials. The method of protecting certain artworks may be more complex, which can impact the cost of transport.
Seasonality
Like any other industry, prices will fluctuate based on demand. Major events like fine art auctions increase the demand on art transportation services, which may in turn inflate prices.
Insurance
In any and every case of shipping fine artwork, we’d advise getting appropriate insurance coverage. As it goes in most cases, the price of insurance will increase depending on the amount of coverage it provides. When it comes to priceless artefacts, this is again something that is not worth cutting corners on.
Special Requirements
Some pieces, ice sculptures, for example, require temperature-controlled transport. Other more expensive pieces will require security escorts. All these additional necessities will impact the price of transportation.
Transportation Company
As much as we hate to admit it, there are other art transportation service providers (we know you only have eyes for us). The varied levels of experience, expertise, service and pricing structures will result in varied price ranges. It is important to do your research to find the best quote (in other words, look no further).
Can You Reduce An Art Transport Cost?
We understand that all the above sounds like a lot. And honestly, none of those factors are something you would wish to skimp out on. The price of unreliable, untrustworthy, and unprotected art transportation is far worse.
On the contrary, there are a few ways you can reduce your expenses without impacting the quality of your service.
For example, shipping multiple pieces together could reduce costs. While initially, the price would appear more expensive, due to a larger amount of cargo, you do not need to repeat the process wherein the costs would multiply.
Also, if you possess the correct materials and are trained in doing so, there is nothing to say you cannot package the art yourself! We would only advise this cost-saving method to those who know how to self-pack art efficiently.
How To Get A Quote For Art Transportation
Now we have answered ‘How much does it cost to transport art?’, you’re probably wondering how to go about getting a quote.
At Aardvark, we make the process of shipping art as seamless and easy as possible. We are quality shippers, who deliver hands-on, expert service.
Requesting a quote with us is easy. Just get in touch via our website or email us at [email protected] or call 01253 794673. One of our dedicated team members will be more than happy to help!