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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,
 LJXLGtJUeYD2OnrGJ4hYj9tESOR9kEJJl7QoV3cQQbedoYVsmn7jUul53y4Zdzqi
 e1r0Sps1y7W725Nf3ic7WA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000089800-03-000141.txt : 20030617
<SEC-HEADER>0000089800-03-000141.hdr.sgml : 20030617
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030617101533
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000089800-03-000141
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030611
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030617

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SEITZ THOMAS W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001203527

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	033-28585
		FILM NUMBER:		03746673

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO
		STREET 2:		101 PROSPECT AVE N W
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000089800
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-BUILDING MATERIALS, HARDWARE, GARDEN SUPPLY [5200]
		IRS NUMBER:				340526850
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 PROSPECT AVE NW
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2165662200
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-11</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000089800</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203527</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SEITZ THOMAS W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Pres. and GM-Consumer Div.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>300</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>31364</value><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfO
wnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Of shares listed, 20,000 are restricted.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reporting Person also beneficially owns 12,748.0121 shares indirectly, which were previously reported.  Such ownership represents the approximate number of shares of common stock for which the Reporting Person has the right to direct the vote under The Sherwin-Williams Company Employee Stock Purchase and Savings Plan per the trustee's 3/31/03 statement.  Shares of common stock are not directly allocated to Plan participants, but are instead held in a unitized fund consisting primarily of common stock and a small percentage of short-term investments.  Participants acquire units of this fund.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Louis E. Stellato, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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