<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-16-067491.txt : 20161117
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-16-067491.hdr.sgml : 20161117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20161117101359
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-16-067491
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20161116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20161117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20161117

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GRACO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000042888
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PUMPS & PUMPING EQUIPMENT [3561]
		IRS NUMBER:				410285640
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		88 11TH AVENUE NE
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55413-1894
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6126236000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CT CORPORATION SYSTEM, INC.
		STREET 2:		100 SOUTH FIFTH STREET, SUITE 1075
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARROLL WILLIAM J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001208226

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09249
		FILM NUMBER:		162004117

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1441
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55440-1441
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-11-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000042888</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GRACO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GGG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208226</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARROLL WILLIAM J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>88 11TH AVENUE NE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNEAPOLIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55413</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40.66</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>25703</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>81.365</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22103</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2960</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>40.66</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-11-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-04-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. The shares were sold at prices ranging from $80.85 to $81.84, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide Graco Inc., any security holder of Graco Inc., or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, with full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range set forth in the footnote.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Nonemployee director stock option granted pursuant to the Amended and Restated Graco Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (2006) in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.  The stock option becomes exercisable in four equal annual installments, commencing one year after the date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Francis J. Brixius Jr., attorney-in-fact for Mr. Carroll</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
