<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000914062-08-000220
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080501
<FILING-DATE>20080505
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080505
<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>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>COOK JOHN M
<CIK>0001026035
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-13165
<FILM-NUMBER>08801098
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>PROFIT RECOVERY GROUP INTERNATIONAL INC
<STREET2>2300 WINDY RIDGE PKWY STE 100 N
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30339-8426
<PHONE>7709553815
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET2>2300 WINDY RIDGE PKWY STE 100 N
<CITY>ATLANTA
<STATE>GA
<ZIP>30339
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>0001026035</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COOK JOHN M</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>75000</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>19500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By LLC controlled by reporting person</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </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/ John M. Cook</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
