Case vs. Crate — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 29, 2024
A case is often smaller and designed for individual items, while a crate is larger and used for bulk or heavy items.
Difference Between Case and Crate
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
A case is typically a container designed to hold or protect specific items, often used for transporting or storing delicate objects like musical instruments, electronics, or bottles of wine. It's designed to be relatively lightweight and portable, often featuring a hard or soft exterior depending on the protection needed. On the other hand, a crate is a large, sturdy container usually made of wood, plastic, or metal, designed for transporting or storing bulky or heavy items. Crates often have a slatted design, allowing for the contents to be ventilated and inspected.
Cases are commonly associated with personal or professional items that require protection against damage, such as cameras, laptops, or instruments, emphasizing individual care and portability. Crates, however, are used in a broader range of industries, including agriculture, manufacturing, and shipping, where items need to be secured in bulk and are often handled with equipment like forklifts.
The design of a case often includes specific features like padding, compartments, or custom fittings to secure and protect its contents, tailored to the specific needs of the item it holds. Crates are more utilitarian and less likely to have such detailed customization, focusing instead on strength and capacity.
In terms of security, cases might come with locks or tamper-evident seals, especially for valuable items, while crates, given their industrial use, rely more on durability and the ability to be sealed or strapped shut. This reflects the different priorities in their usage — cases protect and secure delicate items on an individual level, whereas crates are about the efficient bulk movement and storage of goods.
The choice between using a case or a crate often comes down to the nature of the items being transported or stored, the required level of protection, and the logistical needs of their movement. Personal or high-value items are more likely to be transported in cases, while larger shipments or heavier goods are suited to crates.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Material
Hard or soft exteriors, including plastic, metal, or fabric.
Wood, metal, or plastic, usually with a sturdy build.
Use
Protecting individual, delicate items.
Transporting or storing bulky or heavy items in bulk.
Design Features
Padding, compartments, custom fittings for protection.
Slatted design, focus on strength and ventilation.
Security
May include locks or tamper-evident seals.
Sealed or strapped shut for transport.
Portability
Designed for easy handling and portability.
Often requires equipment like forklifts for movement.
Compare with Definitions
Case
A protective container for storing or transporting individual items.
He placed his violin in its case before heading to the concert.
Crate
Designed to be sturdy and protect its contents during transport.
The industrial equipment was secured in a heavy-duty metal crate.
Case
Often designed with specific features to protect its contents.
The waterproof camera case protected the equipment during the diving trip.
Crate
May require equipment like forklifts for handling.
Workers used a forklift to move the large crates onto the truck.
Case
Portable, sometimes featuring handles or straps.
The lawyer carried a briefcase with important documents to court.
Crate
Focuses on strength, capacity, and sometimes ventilation.
The fruit crates were designed to allow air flow to preserve freshness.
Case
May include locks for added security.
The valuable jewels were kept in a locked case.
Crate
A large shipping container, often made of wood, used for bulk items.
The warehouse was filled with crates of fresh produce ready for shipping.
Case
Can be used for both personal and professional items.
Her makeup case was filled with all the essentials for the shoot.
Crate
Commonly used in agriculture, manufacturing, and shipping industries.
Crates of wine were shipped from the vineyard to distributors worldwide.
Case
An instance of a particular situation; an example of something occurring
A case of mistaken identity
In many cases farmers do have a deep feeling for their land
Crate
A crate is a large shipping container, often made of wood, typically used to transport or store large, heavy items. Steel and aluminium crates are also used.
Case
An instance of a disease, injury, or problem
200,000 cases of hepatitis B
Crate
A container, such as a slatted wooden case, used for storing or shipping.
Case
A legal action, especially one to be decided in a court of law
A libel case
A former employee brought the case against the council
Crate
A container, usually of plastic, metal, or wood, used to house or transport an animal.
Case
Any of the forms of a noun, adjective, or pronoun that express the semantic relation of the word to other words in the sentence
The accusative case
Crate
(Slang) An old rickety vehicle, especially a decrepit automobile or aircraft.
Case
A container designed to hold or protect something
A silver cigarette case
Crate
To pack into a container, such as a slatted wooden case.
Case
Each of the two forms, capital or minuscule, in which a letter of the alphabet may be written or printed.
Crate
To put (an animal) into a crate.
Case
Surround in a material or substance
The towers are of steel cased in granite
Crate
A large open box or basket, used especially to transport fragile goods.
Case
Reconnoitre (a place) before carrying out a robbery
I was casing the joint
Crate
A vehicle (car, aircraft, spacecraft, etc.) seen as unreliable.
Case
An instance or occurrence of a particular kind or category
A case of mistaken identity.
Crate
(programming) In the Rust programming language, a binary or library.
Case
An occurrence of a disease or disorder
A mild case of flu.
Crate
(transitive) To put into a crate.
Case
A set of circumstances or a state of affairs; a situation
It may rain, in which case the hike will be canceled.
Crate
(transitive) To keep in a crate.
Case
Actual fact; reality
We suspected the walls were hollow, and this proved to be the case.
Crate
A large basket or hamper of wickerwork, used for the transportation of china, crockery, and similar wares.
Case
A question or problem; a matter
It is simply a case of honor.
Crate
A box or case whose sides are of wooden slats with interspaces, - used especially for transporting fruit.
Case
A situation that requires investigation, especially by a formal or official body.
Crate
To pack in a crate or case for transportation; as, to crate a sewing machine; to crate peaches.
Case
An action or a suit or just grounds for an action.
Crate
A rugged box (usually made of wood); used for shipping
Case
The facts or evidence offered in support of a claim.
Crate
The quantity contained in a crate
Case
A set of reasons or supporting facts; an argument
Presented a good case for changing the law.
Crate
Put into a crate; as for protection;
Crate the paintings before shipping them to the museum
Case
A person being assisted, treated, or studied, as by a physician, lawyer, or social worker.
Case
(Informal) A peculiar or eccentric person; a character.
Case
In traditional grammar, a distinct form of a noun, pronoun, or modifier that is used to express one or more particular syntactic relationships to other words in a sentence.
Case
Case In some varieties of generative grammar, the thematic or semantic role of a noun phrase as represented abstractly but not necessarily indicated overtly in surface structure. In such frameworks, nouns in English have Case even in the absence of inflectional case endings.
Case
A container; a receptacle
A jewelry case.
Meat-filled cases of dough.
Case
A container with its contents.
Case
A decorative or protective covering or cover.
Case
A set or pair
A case of pistols.
Case
The frame or framework of a window, door, or stairway.
Case
The surface or outer layer of a metal alloy.
Case
A shallow compartmented tray for storing type or type matrices.
Case
The form of a written, printed, or keyed letter that distinguishes it as being lowercase or uppercase
Typed the password using the wrong case.
Case
To put into or cover with a case; encase.
Case
(Slang) To examine carefully, as in planning a crime
Cased the bank before robbing it.
Case
An actual event, situation, or fact.
For a change, in this case, he was telling the truth.
It is not the case that every unfamiliar phrase is an idiom.
In case of fire, break glass. [sign on fire extinguisher holder in public space]
Case
A given condition or state.
Case
A piece of work, specifically defined within a profession.
It was one of the detective's easiest cases.
Social workers should work on a maximum of forty active cases.
The doctor told us of an interesting case he had treated that morning.
Case
(academia) An instance or event as a topic of study.
The teaching consists of theory lessons and case studies.
Case
(legal) A legal proceeding, lawsuit.
Case
(grammar) A specific inflection of a word (particularly a noun, pronoun, or adjective) depending on its function in the sentence.
The accusative case canonically indicates a direct object.
Latin has six cases, and remnants of a seventh.
Case
Grammatical cases and their meanings taken either as a topic in general or within a specific language.
Jane has been studying case in Caucasian languages.
Latin is a language that employs case.
Case
(medicine) An instance of a specific condition or set of symptoms.
There were another five cases reported overnight.
Case
(programming) A section of code representing one of the actions of a conditional switch.
Case
A box that contains or can contain a number of identical items of manufacture.
Case
A box, sheath, or covering generally.
A case for spectacles; the case of a watch
Case
A piece of luggage that can be used to transport an apparatus such as a sewing machine.
Case
An enclosing frame or casing.
A door case; a window case
Case
A suitcase.
Case
A piece of furniture, constructed partially of transparent glass or plastic, within which items can be displayed.
Case
The outer covering or framework of a piece of apparatus such as a computer.
Case
A shallow tray divided into compartments or "boxes" for holding type, traditionally arranged in sets of two, the "upper case" (containing capitals, small capitals, accented) and "lower case" (small letters, figures, punctuation marks, quadrats, and spaces).
Case
The nature of a piece of alphabetic type, whether a “capital” (upper case) or “small” (lower case) letter.
Case
(poker slang) Four of a kind.
Case
(US) A unit of liquid measure used to measure sales in the beverage industry, equivalent to 192 fluid ounces.
Case
(mining) A small fissure which admits water into the workings.
Case
A thin layer of harder metal on the surface of an object whose deeper metal is allowed to remain soft.
Case
A cardboard box that holds (usually 24) beer bottles or cans.
Case
A counterfeit crown five-shilling coin.
Case
(obsolete) to propose hypothetical cases
Case
(transitive) To place (an item or items of manufacture) into a box, as in preparation for shipment.
Case
(transitive) To cover or protect with, or as if with, a case; to enclose.
Case
To survey (a building or other location) surreptitiously, as in preparation for a robbery.
Case
(poker slang) The last remaining card of a particular rank.
He drew the case eight!
Case
A box, sheath, or covering; as, a case for holding goods; a case for spectacles; the case of a watch; the case (capsule) of a cartridge; a case (cover) for a book.
Case
A box and its contents; the quantity contained in a box; as, a case of goods; a case of instruments.
Case
A shallow tray divided into compartments or "boxes" for holding type.
Case
An inclosing frame; a casing; as, a door case; a window case.
Case
A small fissure which admits water to the workings.
Case
Chance; accident; hap; opportunity.
By aventure, or sort, or cas.
Case
That which befalls, comes, or happens; an event; an instance; a circumstance, or all the circumstances; condition; state of things; affair; as, a strange case; a case of injustice; the case of the Indian tribes.
In any case thou shalt deliver him the pledge.
If the case of the man be so with his wife.
And when a lady's in the caseYou know all other things give place.
You think this madness but a common case.
I am in case to justle a constable,
Case
A patient under treatment; an instance of sickness or injury; as, ten cases of fever; also, the history of a disease or injury.
A proper remedy in hypochondriacal cases.
Case
The matters of fact or conditions involved in a suit, as distinguished from the questions of law; a suit or action at law; a cause.
Let us consider the reason of the case, for nothing is law that is not reason.
Not one case in the reports of our courts.
Case
One of the forms, or the inflections or changes of form, of a noun, pronoun, or adjective, which indicate its relation to other words, and in the aggregate constitute its declension; the relation which a noun or pronoun sustains to some other word.
Case is properly a falling off from the nominative or first state of word; the name for which, however, is now, by extension of its signification, applied also to the nominative.
Case
To cover or protect with, or as with, a case; to inclose.
The man who, cased in steel, had passed whole days and nights in the saddle.
Case
To strip the skin from; as, to case a box.
Case
To propose hypothetical cases.
Case
A comprehensive term for any proceeding in a court of law whereby an individual seeks a legal remedy;
The family brought suit against the landlord
Case
An occurrence of something;
It was a case of bad judgment
Another instance occurred yesterday
But there is always the famous example of the Smiths
Case
A special set of circumstances;
In that event, the first possibility is excluded
It may rain in which case the picnic will be canceled
Case
A problem requiring investigation;
Perry Mason solved the case of the missing heir
Case
The actual state of things;
That was not the case
Case
A statement of facts and reasons used to support an argument;
He stated his case clearly
Case
A portable container for carrying several objects;
The musicians left their instrument cases backstage
Case
A person who is subjected to experimental or other observational procedures; someone who is an object of investigation;
The subjects for this investigation were selected randomly
The cases that we studied were drawn from two different communities
Case
A person requiring professional services;
A typical case was the suburban housewife described by a marriage counselor
Case
The quantity contained in a case
Case
A glass container used to store and display items in a shop or museum or home
Case
A specific state of mind that is temporary;
A case of the jitters
Case
Nouns or pronouns or adjectives (often marked by inflection) related in some way to other words in a sentence
Case
The housing or outer covering of something;
The clock has a walnut case
Case
A person of a specified kind (usually with many eccentricities);
A real character
A strange character
A friendly eccentric
The capable type
A mental case
Case
An enveloping structure or covering enclosing an animal or plant organ or part
Case
The enclosing frame around a door or window opening;
The casings had rotted away and had to be replaced
Case
Bed linen consisting of a cover for a pillow;
The burglar carried his loot in a pillowcase
Case
Look over, usually with the intention to rob;
They men cased the housed
Case
Enclose in, or as if in, a case;
My feet were encased in mud
Common Curiosities
What items are typically transported in a case?
Delicate or valuable items requiring individual protection, such as musical instruments, electronics, or sensitive equipment.
Why would someone use a crate instead of a box?
For transporting or storing heavier or bulk items that require the added strength and ventilation a crate offers.
Can cases be customized?
Yes, cases often feature custom fittings, padding, or compartments tailored to the specific items they protect.
Do all crates have a slatted design?
Many crates have a slatted design for ventilation and inspection, but some may be fully enclosed depending on the needs of the contents.
What are the environmental considerations for using crates and cases?
Reusability and material choice are key environmental considerations; sustainable materials and designs that can be reused or recycled are preferable.
How do weather conditions affect the choice between a case or a crate?
Cases may offer better protection against weather due to waterproof materials, while wooden crates might require additional coverage.
Can crates be reused?
Yes, crates are often designed to be sturdy and reusable, especially those made of wood or plastic.
Are there standard sizes for crates and cases?
Both crates and cases come in various sizes, but cases are more likely to be tailored to specific items, while crates may adhere to industry-standard dimensions for transport.
Are cases always small?
While typically smaller than crates, cases can vary in size depending on their intended use, from small camera cases to larger instrument cases.
Is it more secure to transport items in a case?
Cases can offer more individualized security features, like locks, making them suitable for valuable items.
How does ventilation in a crate affect its contents?
Ventilation helps prevent moisture buildup and spoilage, especially important for perishable goods like produce.
How do you choose between using a case or a crate?
The choice depends on the item's size, value, need for protection, and the logistics of transportation or storage.
Can technology be used to track crates and cases?
Yes, both can be equipped with tracking technologies like RFID tags for logistics and inventory management.
Are there regulations affecting the use of crates and cases?
International shipping may have regulations regarding materials, especially for wood crates, to prevent pest transmission.
How does the cost of using a case compare to a crate?
Cases, especially customized ones, can be more expensive than crates due to the added features and protection they offer.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Revenue vs. Profit
Next Comparison
Veg vs. NonvegAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
