-----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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 kGBLL1vadbwv6mLDQrHM8Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000025445-04-000018.txt : 20040426
<SEC-HEADER>0000025445-04-000018.hdr.sgml : 20040426
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040426165513
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000025445-04-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040423
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040426

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:			EVANS ROBERT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001101017

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-01657
		FILM NUMBER:		04754685

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CRANE CO
		STREET 2:		100 FIRST STAMFORD PLACE
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06902
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2033637200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CRANE CO
		STREET 2:		100 FIRST STAMFORD PL
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06902
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001101017</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EVANS ROBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CRANE CO</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 FIRST STAMFORD PL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>CRANE CO. COMMON, PAR VALUE $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15725</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>32.725</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>434270</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>CRANE CO. COMMON, PAR VALUE $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>149</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(K)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">ON APRIL 23, 2004 50,000 SHARES OF RESTRICTED STOCK PREVIOUSLY REPORTED AS BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY THE REPORTING PERSON VESTED DUE TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME, AND 15,725 OF SUCH VESTED SHARES WERE SURRENDERED TO PAY TAXES ON SUCH VESTED SHARES.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">INCLUDES 720 SHARES OWNED BY THE REPORTING PERSON'S SPOUSE.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">BETWEEN OCTOBER 1, 2003 AND MARCH 31, 2004 THE REPORTING PERSON ACQUIRED AN AGGREGATE OF 149 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AT PREVAILING MARKET PRICES THROUGH THE ISSUER'S 401(K) PLAN.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert S. Evans</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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