Don’t Leave Your Home to Ship Art: A Guide for Artists
After years of running galleries and shipping countless artworks since 2013, Michael and I have learned that one of the biggest time drains for artists is the shipping process. In our early years with our previous gallery (2013-2018), we spent hours each week driving to the post office or UPS store—packing work, getting quotes, making multiple trips when we needed to compare prices or adjust packaging. It was exhausting, expensive, and ate into valuable studio time.
We’ve worked with many talented artists over the years who didn’t realize there’s a much easier way to handle shipping. We want to share what transformed our process and saved us countless hours.
The Solution: Ship from Home
The game-changer for us has been Pirate Ship (https://www.pirateship.com/). It is FREE to use.
This platform consistently offers better rates than walking into USPS or UPS—often significantly cheaper—and you handle everything from your studio. No more gas money, no more standing in holiday season lines, no more multiple trips to compare shipping options.
Getting Started
1. Set Up Your Account
Creating a Pirate Ship account is straightforward and free. While other options exist (like PayPal’s Ship Station), we found them clunkier and more expensive. Pirate Ship’s interface is intuitive, and the pricing has genuinely impressed us year after year.
2. Gather Your Supplies
You’ll need most of these items anyway:
- Boxes in various sizes
- Quality packing tape
- Scissors
- Protective packing materials (bubble wrap, foam, corner protectors)
- Simple printer / printer paper
The only additional items for shipping from home:
- A measuring tape – to get box dimensions
- A reliable shipping scale – We’ve used this $20 scale from Amazon for the past four years with excellent results. It’s accurate, durable, and pays for itself immediately in time and gas savings.
How It Works
- Pack your artwork securely with all protective materials
- Weigh the package on your scale
- Measure the box dimensions (length × width × height)
- Enter the details into Pirate Ship along with the destination address
Compare shipping options instantly—choose your speed and carrier - Pay and print your label right from your computer
- Get tracking information immediately to share with your buyers or collectors
The Pickup Advantage
Here’s where it gets even better:
USPS: Offers free pickup service. Schedule it online, and your mail carrier will collect packages during their regular route. Schedule USPS pickup here.
UPS: Charges around $4 for pickup, or you can drop packages at any UPS location if one is convenient.
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We Hope This makes Things Easier
As artists, every hour counts. The time you save by eliminating post office trips adds up quickly—that’s time back in your studio, time for marketing, time with collectors, or simply time to rest. The cost savings are significant too, especially as your sales increase.
We’ve been doing this since our gallery reopening, and it’s become an essential part of our business operations. Whether you’re shipping one piece a month or dozens, this system scales beautifully and keeps your focus where it belongs: on your art.
