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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SjTs53vdY7AMRBB33ozlelboWHtm76YjwVBpaVBXG2ZvHZ6+r6sglDgOQLqpd6LH
 HnE4fKJ5HpcMxz0BF0WCUQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000089800-04-000002.txt : 20040105
<SEC-HEADER>0000089800-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040105105357
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000089800-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040105

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLLINS DUANE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001021747

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	033-28585
		FILM NUMBER:		04502302

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PARKER HANNIFIN CORP
		STREET 2:		6035 PARKLAND BLVD
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44124
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2168962420

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PARKER HANNIFIN CORP
		STREET 2:		6035 PARKLAND BLVD
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44124
</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>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000089800</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001021747</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COLLINS DUANE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6035 PARKLAND BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44124</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units </value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>12.71</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>262.26</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>12.71</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyin
gSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>41716.03</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquisition of phantom stock units (in an exempt transaction) under the Director Deferred Fee Plan to be settled generally upon the Reporting Person's retirement.  The plan utilizes unit accounting, with phantom stock units consisting primarily of phantom shares of common stock and a small percentage of short-term investments (based upon a beginning per unit price of $10.00 at April 1, 1997).</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes phantom stock units acquired pursuant to the dividend equivalent reinvestment feature of the pla
n.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Louis E. Stellato, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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