Case quantity is how many units sit in the shipper carton a supplier sends, while inner pack is the smaller sealed bundle inside that carton — and those two numbers decide your real cost per unit. When a listing reads "10 boxes of 100", the case quantity is 1,000 gloves and the inner pack is one box of 100. Compare quotes without both figures, and two suppliers can match on price per case while delivering very different counts.
What is the difference between case quantity and inner pack?
Case quantity, sometimes written as "case pack" or "units per case", is the total count in the outer carton that arrives on the pallet. It is the number that moves through a warehouse and appears on a purchase order. Inner pack is the break point inside that carton: the smaller sealed bundle a user opens when the stock reaches the shelf.
The gap between them is where ordering mistakes happen. A supplier that quotes per case is quoting the whole carton, while a supplier that quotes per box may be quoting only the inner pack. Same words, different arithmetic.
Why does the inner pack matter to a small clinic?
Storage is the first reason. A carton of ten boxes is easy to stack, but a clinic that opens one box at a time can pull inner packs without breaking the case seal on the rest. That keeps dust off the gloves and makes rotation straightforward.
The second reason is shelf life and fit. Consumables that age — anything with a printed expiry — should be opened as close to use as possible. Inner packs let a small clinic buy a full case for the price break while still drawing stock in small amounts.
Which number should you compare when quoting?
| Term | What it counts | Example (nitrile exam gloves) |
|---|---|---|
| Case quantity | Total units in the shipper carton | 1,000 gloves (10 boxes of 100) |
| Inner pack | Smallest sealed bundle inside the case | 1 box of 100 gloves |
| Unit of measure | What the supplier prices against | Per case or per box |
| Minimum order quantity | Smallest order the supplier accepts | One case |
| Master case | Bulk layer above the single case | Multiple cases on one pallet |
How do you compare two quotes fairly?
Convert both quotes to the same unit before you decide. Divide the case price by the case quantity and you get a cost per glove or per gown that survives any packing difference. If one supplier quotes per box and the other per case, the per-unit figure is the only honest comparison.
Then check what the case actually contains against what your storage can hold. A deeper discount on a carton you cannot open without spoiling half of it is not a saving. For a clinic with one storeroom, a slightly higher per-unit cost with a smaller inner pack often wins on waste alone.
Ordering for a clinic, lab or care home? Wholesale and multi-site ordering covers case pricing and account setup, and the B2B wholesale collection lists the lines stocked for institutional buyers.
Related reading
clinic consumables hub; case review: an Ontario dental clinic's glove spend; case review: LTC isolation gown stocking; nitrile gloves, 10 boxes of 100 per case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a case the same as a box?
Not usually. A case is the shipper carton, and a box is often the inner pack inside it, so one case can hold ten boxes or more.
Why do two quotes show a different price per case?
Suppliers may pack different counts into the carton. Compare the cost per glove or per unit, not the cost per case.
What does minimum order quantity mean?
It is the smallest order a supplier will accept, often one case. A low minimum makes it easier to trial a line without tying up storage.
Does a larger case always cost less per unit?
Not always. Storage, expiry and handling can offset the saving, especially where shelf space is tight.
What should a purchase order list?
List the case quantity, the inner pack, the unit of measure and the total units, so both sides read the same order.
CliniEco Medical is a licensed medical device establishment (MDEL #35334).
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