-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000025445-04-000004.txt : 20040128
<SEC-HEADER>0000025445-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040128
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040128155749
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000025445-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040128

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CRANE CO /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000025445
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS [3490]
		IRS NUMBER:				131952290
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CRANE CO.
		STREET 2:		100 FIRST STAMFORD PLACE
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06902
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-363-7300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CRANE CO.
		STREET 2:		100 FIRST STAMFORD PLACE
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06902

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PANTALEONI A D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236282

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01657
		FILM NUMBER:		04549300

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CRANE CO
		STREET 2:		100 FIRST STAMFORD PLACE
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06907
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2033637223

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CRANE CO
		STREET 2:		100 FIRST STAMFORD PLACE
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06907

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PANTALEONI ANTHONY DOMINIC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030528
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000025445</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CRANE CO /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CR-NYSE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236282</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PANTALEONI A D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CRANE CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 FIRST STAMFORD PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V.P.-Environ., Health &amp; Safety</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>CRANE CO. COMMON, PAR VALUE $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>489</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.62</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38874</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>CRANE CO. COMMON, PAR VALUE $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>358</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12709</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(K)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">ON JANUARY 27, 2004 1,556 SHARES OF RESTRICTED STOCK PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY THE REPORTING PERSON VESTED DUE TO PASSAGE OF TIME, AND 489 SHARES WERE SURRENDERED TO PAY TAXES ON SUCH VESTED SHARES.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">BETWEEN JULY 1, 2003 AND DECEMBER 31, 2003 THE REPORTING PERSON ACQUIRED AN AGGREGATE OF 358 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AT PREVAILING MARKET PRICES THROUGH THE ISSUER'S 401(K) PLAN.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>A. D. PANTALEONI</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----