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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ccdswh78Fi7bBxj0/itwIgSOKn5n/lrFH3SlHGfrWFvWSKr7HR7HCv3lzK7g7VVW
 9HnHsqSQGljSQiirGsQZIQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000089800-03-000219.txt : 20030915
<SEC-HEADER>0000089800-03-000219.hdr.sgml : 20030915
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030915105836
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000089800-03-000219
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030912
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030915

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CONNOR CHRISTOPHER M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181680

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	033-28585
		FILM NUMBER:		03894993

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO
		STREET 2:		101 PROSPECT AVE NW
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115-1027

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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-12</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000089800</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181680</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CONNOR CHRISTOPHER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 PROSPECT AVENUE, N.W.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44115</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.89</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-12</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>I</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>114182.91</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.89</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecu
rity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Phantom stock units are held under deferred compensation plan(s) to be settled generally upon the Reporting Person's retirement or termination of employment, subject to diversification provisions of the plan(s).  The plan(s) utilize unit accounting, with phantom stock units consisting primarily of phantom shares of common stock and a small percentage of short-term investments.  On April 1, 1997, units were assigned a beginning per unit price of $10.00.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Exem
pt discretionary transaction in accordance with Rule 16b-3(f).</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Louis E. Stellato, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-15</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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