<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000914062-08-000218
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080501
<FILING-DATE>20080505
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080505
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BEVEVINO DANIEL J
<CIK>0001186458
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13165
<FILM-NUMBER>08801084
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>R D #1 BOX 36
<CITY>AVONMORE
<STATE>PA
<ZIP>15618
</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>2008-05-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186458</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BEVEVINO DANIEL J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CRYOLIFE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1655 ROBERTS BOULEVARD, NW</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KENNESAW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30144</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-01</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>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of restricted stock that vest on the first anniversary of the grant date if the reporting person remains a member of the Company's board of directors, subject to earlier vesting upon certain events including death, disability and retirement from the board after serving out his full term because the director is not standing for re-election at the end of the term.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Daniel J. Bevevino</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
