-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AmWJQn+wSUcV0u+cobwDsaNsTzoKTBg/+1zBPxZBAr2otC8f3LDM9p/oFr5zcyqV
 RKYzqqrhYu84FCl4Lg2s5w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001302675-09-000002.txt : 20090217
<SEC-HEADER>0001302675-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090217153258
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001302675-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090217

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DOVER CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000029905
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CONSTRUCTION, MINING & MATERIALS HANDLING MACHINERY & EQUIP [3530]
		IRS NUMBER:				530257888
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		280 PARK AVE
		STREET 2:		38-W
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2129221640

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Livingston Robert
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001302675

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04018
		FILM NUMBER:		09613081

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212.922.1640

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		267 LOWELL ROAD
		CITY:			HUDSON
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03051
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-12</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029905</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DOVER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DOV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001302675</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Livingston Robert</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DOVER CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>280 PARK AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO, President &amp; Director</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Appreciation Right</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.45</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>155124</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-02-12</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>155124</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>155124</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The SSARs are granted pursuant to the Dover Corporation 2005 Cash and Equity Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;).  Subject to shareholder approval, Dover Corporation has adopted amendments to the Plan to provide for the grant of performance shares.  In addition to the SSARs reported above, the Reporting Person has been granted alternative awards of 12,927 performance shares or 51,708 additional SSARs, contingent upon the result of the shareholder vote on the proposed amendments to the Plan (the performance share award being void in the event that the shareholders do not approve the amendments to the Plan and the SSAR award being void in the event that the shareholders do approve the amendments).  In accordance with Section 16(a), the award of performance shares or SSARs, as applicable, will be reported after the contingency for the award has been satisfied at the shareholders' meeting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert A. Livingston by Joseph W. Schmidt, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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