-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NL1SusQj/mDJ4OiuGQGhmVv/Zm9vzQDHYSvlNdhOCWedlBx9E5HG3vlsF6723dxG
 vz7O41V+vgd7aDeP04rzrw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001213842-09-000002.txt : 20090217
<SEC-HEADER>0001213842-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090217153609
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001213842-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090212
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCKAY RAYMOND T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213842

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04018
		FILM NUMBER:		09613123

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O DOVER CORP
		STREET 2:		280 PARK AVENUE 34W
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

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
</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>0001213842</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCKAY RAYMOND T</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Controller</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>27290</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>27290</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27290</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 2,274 performance shares or 9,097 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>Raymond T. McKay by Joseph W. Schmidt, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
