<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000091142-12-000044.txt : 20120417
<SEC-HEADER>0000091142-12-000044.hdr.sgml : 20120417
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120417134624
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000091142-12-000044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120416
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120417
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120417

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sandoval Mathias
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001415197

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00475
		FILM NUMBER:		12763302

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		4 TESSENEER DRIVE
		CITY:			HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41076

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SMITH A O CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000091142
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES [3630]
		IRS NUMBER:				390619790
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11270 WEST PARK PLACE
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53224
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4143594000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11270 WEST PARK PLACE
		CITY:			MILWAUKEE
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53224
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-04-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000091142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SMITH A O CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AOS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001415197</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sandoval Mathias</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>A. O. SMITH CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11270 WEST PARK PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MILWAUKEE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53224</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restrick Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>44.24</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2035</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2035</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5371</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Payment of portion of retainer in Restricted Stock Units under the A. O. Smith Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan based on the market price of the Common Stock on April 16, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Plan permits the participant to defer the receipt of the award, and Mr. Sandoval has made a deferral.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Restricted Stock Units receive a quarterly dividend pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the A. O. Smith Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Plan.  The total amount of dividends received was 53 units of Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James F. Stern, Attorney-in-Fact for Mathias F. Sandoval</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
