KerfCase

What KerfCase does

KerfCase designs, manufactures, and sells handcrafted wood phone cases directly to consumers through its kerfcase.com e-commerce storefront. Founded in 2013 by Ben Saks at Carnegie Mellon University's architecture school woodshop, the company produces cases using CNC precision machining with 0.001-inch tolerances combined with a patented two-part design that pairs stabilized wood with a FlexResin bezel to address the inherent fragility of natural wood. Cases are offered across three tiers - Slim (entry-level from $59), Solid (premium $99-$124), and KerfSelect (premium hand-selected grain patterns, coming soon) - and are available for Apple iPhone (13-17 series), Samsung Galaxy (S24-S26 series), and Google Pixel (9-10 series) devices. The product integrates MagSafe-compatible magnets, machined aluminum buttons, and a Pure Tung Oil finish.

The business operates as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce company with no disclosed third-party retail or wholesale channels. Cases are made to order with a 5-7 business day standard lead time for Slim cases and an additional 2 days for Solid/Select tiers. Revenue is generated entirely through one-time unit purchases, augmented by a KerfCare lifetime repair service that charges a $10 flat fee for shipping-covered repairs and offers 50% replacement discounts. Customers span 14,000+ individual buyers served globally since founding, with international shipping supported across 100+ currency localizations. The company's value proposition rests on American-made craftsmanship, natural material sustainability, CNC precision fit, and differentiated industrial design developed through a 2022 brand refresh with Swiss agency Melriver.

Following the August 2025 acquisition by Carved, KerfCase consolidated manufacturing into Carved's woodshop in Elkhart, Indiana, transitioning out of its former Wilmerding, Pennsylvania headquarters. The company continues to operate as a subsidiary under the Kerf and KerfCase trade names, retaining its brand identity, patented wood-FlexResin technology, registered 'Kerf' trademark, and direct-to-consumer e-commerce model. The Elkhart facility produces all current Kerf cases with a team of 51-100 employees.

Name

KerfCase

Legal name

Kerf Case LLC

Website

https://kerfcase.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

KerfCase designs and sells handcrafted wood phone cases direct-to-consumer via kerfcase.com. Founded in 2013, the company uses CNC precision machining and a patented stabilized wood + FlexResin design to produce Slim, Solid, and Select case tiers for iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel devices, and was acquired by Carved in August 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Consumer Electronics Accessories

NAICS

Wood Product Manufacturing (321), All Other Miscellaneous Wood Product Manufacturing (321999)

SIC

Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400)

akta.pro primary industry

Crates & Cases (Wooden/Plastic/Metal, Export Cases) (IMALAFAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Wood Pallets, Crates & Industrial Wood Packaging (IMADADAJ)

Keywords

• Wood phone cases
• Handcrafted phone accessories
• Smartphone protective cases
• Wood smartphone covers
• Artisan mobile cases

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Wood Phone Case Sales: One-time purchase of handcrafted wood phone cases. Cases are made to order and customized by wood species selection. Production time varies by case type: Slim cases 5-7 business days standard, Solid/Select cases take additional 2 business days. No recurring revenue model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

KerfCase designs and sells handcrafted wood phone cases for iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel smartphones. Cases are made to order from natural wood using CNC precision manufacturing combined with a patented two-part stabilized wood + FlexResin design, with production based in Elkhart, Indiana. Offerings span Slim, Solid, and Select (Burl) wood collections, plus a KerfCare lifetime protection membership and accessories.

Product overview

KerfCase is a handcrafted wood phone case company offering three main product lines: Solid Wood Cases (full-coverage premium cases with stabilized wood, FlexResin bezel, MagSafe compatibility, and machined aluminum buttons), Slim Wood Cases (lightweight minimalist cases in exotic wood species), and Select Wood Cases (premium hand-selected pieces allowing customers to choose exact grain patterns). Cases are available for Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Google Pixel smartphones in various wood species including Walnut, Cherry, Maple, Mahogany, Padauk, Wenge, Quartersawn White Oak, Teak, Black Limba, Cedar, Ebony, Redwood Burl, and Walnut Burl. The company operates a workshop in Elkhart, Indiana and offers KerfCare lifetime protection plans. Founded in 2013, KerfCase was acquired by Carved in 2025.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Solid Wood Phone Cases KerfCase's flagship two-part wood phone cases, combining a stabilized wood shell with a proprietary FlexResin shock-absorbent inner layer for iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel smartphones. Includes MagSafe-compatible options.
• Slim Wood Phone Cases A lower-profile variant of KerfCase's wood cases, available for iPhone, Galaxy, and Pixel models, with prices ranging from $40.00 to $50.00 across device-specific SKUs.
• Kerf Select Wood Phone Cases Premium-tier wood phone cases made from exotic and Burl wood species, positioned at the top of the KerfCase lineup with prices ranging from $80.00 to $120.00 depending on model and wood selection.
• KerfCare Lifetime Protection A paid, ongoing protection plan that covers a customer's KerfCase through incidents such as drops, bends, breaks, and even loss, with corresponding product replacements.
• iPhone Wood Cases Device-specific collection of wood phone cases sized for Apple iPhone models, offered across Slim, Solid, and Select tiers with wood species options including Walnut, Maple, Cherry, and Padauk.
• Galaxy Wood Cases Device-specific collection of wood phone cases sized for Samsung Galaxy models, offered across Slim, Solid, and Select tiers with wood species options including Walnut, Maple, Cherry, and Padauk.
• Pixel Wood Cases Device-specific collection of wood phone cases sized for Google Pixel models, offered across Slim, Solid, and Select tiers with wood species options including Walnut, Maple, Cherry, and Padauk.

Quantifiable outcome

• 14,000+ clients served since 2013
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CarvedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Kerf was acquired by Carved in 2025, with a shared passion for craftsmanship and design. The acquisition represents a new beginning for the Kerf brand, continuing its tradition of precision and natural materials while carrying it forward into the future. All Kerf Cases are now being made at the Carved woodshop in Elkhart, Indiana.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Burga: Premium design-led phone case brand with customizable and fashion-forward positioning. Competes for style-conscious premium phone case consumers seeking distinctive designs.
• Bellroy: Premium accessories brand with a phone case line and similar design-led, sustainable positioning. Targets premium minimalist consumers, but operates a much broader product portfolio than KerfCase.
• Nomad Goods: Premium leather and wood accessories brand with phone cases as a core category. Targets similar premium craftsmanship-oriented consumers with American-made positioning and natural materials.
• Pela Case: Eco-friendly biodegradable phone case brand. Competes for sustainability-conscious consumers, a segment that overlaps with KerfCase's natural materials and local-sourcing positioning.

Direct peers

• Carved: Wood phone case and accessories brand that acquired KerfCase in 2025 and now operates the Elkhart, Indiana woodshop where all Kerf Cases are produced. Directly comparable in product category, materials, target customer, and craftsmanship-led positioning.
• Woodcessories: Direct competitor producing eco-friendly wood phone cases for iPhone, Galaxy, and other smartphones. Competes head-on for the same premium natural-material consumer segment as KerfCase with comparable pricing and wood species variety.
• Oakywood: Premium wood accessories brand offering wooden phone cases alongside watches, wallets, and desk accessories. Targets the same premium craftsmanship-focused consumer with similar natural-material and handmade positioning.
• Pad & Quill: Premium handcrafted leather and wood accessories brand with phone cases as a core category. Competes directly for premium handmade mobile accessory market with comparable craftsmanship and American-made positioning.

Broad incumbents

• Casetify: Major phone case brand offering customizable and premium cases. Significantly larger scale and broader product range than KerfCase, but competes for the premium phone case market with custom and design-led offerings.
• OtterBox: Largest phone case manufacturer with focus on protective cases. Mass-market oriented, but dominates the premium protective case category that overlaps with KerfCase's protective positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kerfcase
• Facebookfacebook.com/kerfcase
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10458315

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KerfCase