Best NAS Case 2024: Top NAS Storage Units

Though they are useful, Network-Attached Storage – or NAS – units can be cumbersome to store and difficult to maintain. If you want to avoid your office or home looking like a server farm, then investing in the best NAS case is a worthwhile effort. These cases are effectively downscaled PC cases: giving you a better way to store your NAS system and allowing for cooling elements or other features. But as with anything NAS-related, it’s not as straightforward as buying any case.

To help, we’ve compiled an array of NAS case options for you to choose from, each with their own strengths to speak of. We’ve detailed below why you might choose one over the other, so you can make an informed purchase and safely store your storage!

How We Picked the Best NAS Case

Given the size of NAS systems, we opted primarily for ITX PC cases for storing your NAS unit. These smaller units still provide space for small PC builds whilst leaving room for airflow. We considered the available space in our units relative to their effective cooling abilities, and compatibility with various motherboards. We also factored in the durability of each case – though it goes without saying that even with a case you should store your NAS safely.

We settled on five products, across a range of price points, each with their own respective merits. You’re sure to find the ideal NAS case with our rankings.

Taking our top spot today is the Jonsbo N3, a great mini-ITX case perfect for NAS systems. Intuitively designed and with plenty of headroom for hard drives, this case is well worth investing in.

Made from a steadfast aluminum frame, the N3 is a robust housing solution. The design accommodates CPU coolers for improved airflow, but the standard 100mm fans do an ample job of keeping the temperature low. You’ve also got space for an ITX motherboard slot, and an SFX PSU for power. The front panel is easily removed for quick access to the hard drives, making it especially easy to replace or install drives. With so many top features, it’s hard to pick a flaw for the N3.

That said, the form factor does limit the case’s overall scalability, with you limited to smaller components. Though this still leaves room for eight standard-sized hard drives, and is ideal for most conventional NAS setups. We highly recommend the N3 as a top NAS casing.

For a budget-friendly case housing for your NAS, consider the Cooler Master N200. A great manufacturer of an array of affordable PC parts, this Micro-ATX case makes for a sterling storage solution.

With space for 3 HDD bays, this case manages to be accommodating whilst having a compact form factor – and all retailing at a low price well under $100. The modular design makes it easy to remove the side panels and install new components, and you can fit a moderate amount of ATX components in this 14.9″ x 7.9″ x 17.5″ casing without overcrowding it. With 3 120mm fans, airflow is kept smooth and running is kept quiet.

However, if you find yourself wanting to upgrade your HDDs, we wouldn’t recommend doing it too often: due to their rear placement in this case, they can be tough to access. It’s a small cost given the savings, and we highly recommend the N200 as an excellent budget NAS case.

If your NAS server is set up to handle a great deal of secure data from your business, you’ll want to keep it physically safe as well as digitally secure. Enter the SilverStone CS351, an ITX case designed to protect your information.

The five HDD bays on the CS351 can be locked, to prevent anyone from attempting to take them. If a prospective thief attempts to make off with the whole NAS, the alloyed steel build will certainly slow them down. When there aren’t heists taking place, you’ll find this case to comfortably accommodate a decent array of components, with space for a cooler to help keep things running smoothly at all times.

We do recommend investing in that cooler, however. Due to the compact nature of the CS351, it can be prone to a buildup of heat. If you keep the airflow cool, then the CS351 is an ideal choice for secure NAS housing.

If your storage solution needs triple-digit terabytes to be safely stored, then the Phanteks Enthoo Pro 2 is a great case to do so. With the capacity for ten HDDs, you’ll have ample server space in this tower case.

Due to the size of the Enthoo Pro 2, both component capacity and cooling capabilities are top-notch. This large NAS case can not only accommodate a large amount of drives, but also as many as 15 fans to keep them cool. Even without, this case optimizes its airflow to ensure your unit doesn’t overheat. Sturdy thanks to it’s design primarily comprised of alloyed steel, the Enthoo Pro 2 is a sterling addition to any large-scale business’ NAS.

However, we should stress that it is primarily made of steel. The plastic components are reportedly quite flimsy, and can cause issues. It’s a rarity for anything to break. We still highly recommend the Enthoo Pro 2 as a top large-scale NAS storage solution.

With the same HDD capacity as the large Enthoo 2 Pro in a more compact body, the Fractal Design Node 804 closes out our ranking. For a reliable home NAS storage unit, this versatile case is ideal.

With space for both HDDs and SSDs, the Node 804 can be customized to suit your specific needs. Coming with two 120mm fans, your unit is kept cool no matter the component combination. The NAS case also supports installing additional fans to your heart’s content, and features dust filters at every contact point to prevent contamination. A good 10″ shallower than the Enthoo 2 Pro, this is a great option for limited spaces in home office or small businesses.

So why isn’t the Node 804 the best NAS case? As an ATX case, this unit will be tightly packed with full-size components, especially if you want to maximize the number of HDDs in there. This can make installing or swapping parts a hassle, but for a mainstay home NAS that requires minimal maintenance, you can’t beat the Node 804.

Features and Considerations

If you’re looking for a different NAS case from the ones selected today, there are a few features to factor into your purchase. Most pressing is the HDD capacity, which will determine how much storage your Network-Attached Storage can accommodate. This pairs with the physical footprint of the case: larger cases can accommodate more hard drives, but will take up more space. Bulkiness is a worthy consideration, too, as these devices are quite heavy – and too large a case will compound that effect.

The more technical aspects include the fan capacity and airflow: just like with any custom PC, good airflow will ensure your server doesn’t overheat. Most cases come with slots for fans of various sizes, but you can also invest in CPU coolers to further improve airflow. You should also consider the motherboard slot on the NAS case in question, as that will determine the ease of installing all other components such as your power supply. Finally, we recommend a degree of security for your case – even a simple lock-and-key solution will ensure your drives stay safe.

FAQs

Verdict

Capable, albeit compact, the Jonsbo N3 is our favorite NAS case: striking an excellent balance between form an function with it’s eight-bay capacity and Mini-ITX board factor. This case, or any of the other units we’ve suggested, are all great NAS options: guaranteeing damage-free and secure housing for your network storage.

Looking for a pre-built NAS for your office? Check out our guide on the best NAS for small business today.