-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 BwoqZuAWZY69L/yyB4iDpAEC9j3iSg5uKpcBRf+nFGwhqrhFPLTVE1jknCtjMQex
 X/m6Bp5+5aepm+ND38IiZw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245031-05-000064.txt : 20050407
<SEC-HEADER>0001245031-05-000064.hdr.sgml : 20050407
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050407154323
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245031-05-000064
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050405
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050407
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050407

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SNAP ON INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091440
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE [3420]
		IRS NUMBER:				390622040
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10801 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			KENOSHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53141-1430
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4146565200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10801 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			KENOSHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53141

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SNAP ON TOOLS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORENO JEANNE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199917

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07724
		FILM NUMBER:		05739259

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3777 GULFSTREAM RD
		CITY:			GULFSTREAM
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33483
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9542672387

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3777 GULFSTREAM RD
		CITY:			GULFSTEAM
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33483
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091440</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SNAP ON INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SNA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199917</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORENO JEANNE M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2801 80TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KENOSHA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53141</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP - Chief Information Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-04-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12150</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12150</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">One half of the options will vest on April 5, 2006 and and the remainder will vest on April 5, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant of stock option from the Company.  There is not a price for the security.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jason D. Bartel under Power of Attorney for Jeanne M. Moreno</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
