<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001543407-13-000052.txt : 20130905
<SEC-HEADER>0001543407-13-000052.hdr.sgml : 20130905
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130905161201
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001543407-13-000052
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130905
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130905

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BECTON DICKINSON & CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000010795
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURGICAL & MEDICAL INSTRUMENTS & APPARATUS [3841]
		IRS NUMBER:				220760120
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BECTON DR
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKES
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417-1880
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2018476800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE BECTON DR
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKE
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hurwitz Jerome V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001585752

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04802
		FILM NUMBER:		131080564

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY
		STREET 2:		1 BECTON DRIVE
		CITY:			FRANKLIN LAKES
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07417
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
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<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010795</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BECTON DICKINSON &amp; CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BDX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001585752</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hurwitz Jerome V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BECTON, DICKINSON AND COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 BECTON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRANKLIN LAKES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07417</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1687</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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    <derivativeTable>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-21</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
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                <value>2008-11-20</value>
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                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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                    <value></value>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>76.64</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-11-23</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2020-11-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6799</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>72.12</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-11-22</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-11-22</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9166</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Rights</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>76.18</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-11-20</value>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-11-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9732</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects restricted stock units awarded under the Becton, Dickinson and Company 2004 Employee and Director Equity-Based Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities are generally distributed upon termination, or following retirement on the date or dates specified by the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The securities convert to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The stock appreciation rights vest in four annual installments beginning November 21, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The stock appreciation rights vest in four annual installments beginning November 20, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The stock appreciation rights vest in four annual installments beginning November 25, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The stock appreciation rights vest in four annual installments beginning November 24, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The stock appreciation rights vest in four annual installments beginning November 23, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">The stock appreciation rights vest in four annual installments beginning November 22, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">The stock appreciation rights vest in four annual installments beginning November 20, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard Stout, by power of attorney for Jerome V. Hurwitz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-09-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
