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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ET6WmtriK9tu9Wwy+T+JrkR+xycub6SiD9UsliseXPl0eMgr1e9FMqONbbWKhN1E
 i7p95HribIGoa41czkxXSw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000313616-04-000005.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000313616-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105134944
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000313616-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOLES DONALD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245543

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08089
		FILM NUMBER:		04503389

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2028280850

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DANAHER CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000313616
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823]
		IRS NUMBER:				591995548
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE N.W., 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2028280850

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. N.W., 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DMG INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850221
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000313616</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DANAHER CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DHR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001245543</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DOLES DONALD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20006</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP-Danaher Business System</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Executive Deferred Income Plan -- Danaher Stock Fund</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>233.42</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>91.75</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exer
ciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>233.42</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1263.73</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Executive Deferred Income Plan -- Danaher Stock Fund</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-31</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolv
ed>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F5"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7.08</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>91.75</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7.08</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1270.81</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><secur
ityTitle><value>Executive Deferred Income Plan -- Danaher Stock Fund</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F6"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>201.41</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>91.75</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F4"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>201.41</value></underlyingSecurityShares><
/underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1472.22</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Compensation deferred or contributed into the Danaher stock fund (the &quot;EDIP Stock Fund&quot;) included in Danaher's Executive Deferred Income Plan (the &quot;EDIP&quot;) is deemed to be invested in a number of unfunded, notional shares of Danaher common stock based on the closing price of Danaher common stock as reported on the NYSE on the date such compensation is credited to the EDIP Stock Fund.  Similarly, when balances are transferred out of the EDIP Stock Fund, the notional shares to be transferred out of the EDIP Stock Fund are valued based on the the closing price of Danaher common stock as reported o
n the NYSE on the date such notional shares are transferred out.  The price shown in Table II, Column 8 above is the closing price per share of Danaher common stock as reported on the NYSE on December 31, 2003.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The notional shares convert on a one-for-one basis.</footnote><footnote id="F3">In accordance with the terms of the EDIP, on January 1, 2001, Danaher credited a specified amount to the EDIP Stock Fund of the reporting person, and since that date the value of such notional amount has tracked the market value of Danaher's common stock.  In accordance with the terms of the EDIP, as of December 31, 2003, such notional amount was valued based on the closing price of Danaher common stock as reported on the NYSE on such date, an amount equal to one-half of such value was credited to the fixed income investment option in the reporting person's EDIP account, and a corresponding amount was debited from the reporting person's EDIP Stock Fund.  The debiting of such amount from the repo
rting person's EDIP Stock Fund is the transaction being reported in this line item.</footnote><footnote id="F4">The reporting person immediately vests in 100% of each voluntary contribution to the EDIP Stock Fund.  The reporting person will vest in all company contributions to the EDIP Stock Fund as follows: 100% upon the earlier of the reporting person's death, or upon retirement following at least 5 years of service with Danaher and reaching the age of 55, or, if earlier, 10% per vesting year of participation following five vesting years of participation, in each case in accordance with the plan.  Upon termination of employment, the vested portion of the EDIP Stock Fund is settled in either cash, Danaher common stock or a combination of cash and Danaher common stock, at the reporting person's election.  </footnote><footnote id="F5">Voluntary deferral into EDIP Stock Fund.</footnote><footnote id="F6">In accordance with the terms of the EDIP, on January 1, 2004, Danaher credited a specified amount to the EDI
P Stock Fund of the reporting person, which amount has been deemed to be invested in a number of unfunded, notional shares of Danaher common stock based on the closing price of Danaher common stock as reported on the NYSE on December 31, 2003.  As of January 1, 2004, the company contribution cycle under the EDIP changed from a three year cycle to a one year cycle, and at the end of the cycle the entirety of the amount credited to the EDIP Stock Fund at the beginning of the cycle will remain in the EDIP Stock Fund, rather than being split between the fixed-income investment option and the EDIP Stock Fund as was the practice through December 31, 2003.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>James F. O'Reilly, attorney-in-fact for Donald E. Doles</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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