<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000914062-08-000102
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080219
<FILING-DATE>20080220
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080220
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>LEE DAVID ASHLEY
<CIK>0001112830
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13165
<FILM-NUMBER>08630286
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CRYOLIFE INC
<STREET2>1655 ROBERTS BLVD NW
<CITY>KENNESAW
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30144
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CRYOLIFE INC
<CIK>0000784199
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3841
<IRS-NUMBER>592417093
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>FL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1655 ROBERTS BOULEVARD N W
<STREET2>STE 142
<CITY>KENNESAW
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30144
<PHONE>7704193355
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>1655 ROBERTS BOULEVARD N W
<STREET2>STE 142
<CITY>KENNESAW
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30144
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<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>2008-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000784199</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CRYOLIFE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001112830</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEE DAVID ASHLEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CRYOLIFE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1655 ROBERTS BLVD., N.W.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KENNESAW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30144</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. VP, COO and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>98526</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Parents</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Children</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of restricted stock that vest on the third anniversary of the grant date if the reporting person remains in the continuous employ of the Company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person holds 1,700 shares indirectly through parents for which the reporting person has power of disposition only and disclaims beneficial ownership.  This report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other reason.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ D.A. Lee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
