-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H7n9JDAT6nsWqKYI6K8HcmRmxDMs5pQcAPgbzVDUTcgHxGYMxIBGs0qPxBKid2qU
 pPF6iFMQXhwzjlnRfFsVFQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001218164-04-000017.txt : 20040506
<SEC-HEADER>0001218164-04-000017.hdr.sgml : 20040506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040506145013
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001218164-04-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040504
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040506

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DELUXE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000027996
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BLANKBOOKS, LOOSELEAF BINDERS & BOOKBINDING & RELATED WORK [2780]
		IRS NUMBER:				410216800
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3680 VICTORIA STREET NORTH
		CITY:			SHOREVIEW
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55126
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6514837111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3680 VICOTRIA STREET NORTH
		CITY:			SHOREVIEW
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55126

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DELUXE CHECK PRINTERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880608

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCARFONE ANTHONY C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218164

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07945
		FILM NUMBER:		04784715

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3680 VICTORIA ST. N.
		STREET 2:		C/O DELUXE CORP
		CITY:			SHOREVIEW
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55126
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6514837305

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3680 VICTORIA ST. N.
		STREET 2:		C/O DELUXE CORP
		CITY:			SHOREVIEW
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55126
</SEC-HEADER>
<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>2004-05-04</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000027996</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DELUXE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DLX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218164</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCARFONE ANTHONY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3680 VICTORIA STREET N.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SHOREVIEW</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55126</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr. VP, General Counsel &amp; Secy</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>966</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1030</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9626</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>90725</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units were awarded on 1/26/04 (966 units) under the Company's Stock Incentive Plan.  The units will vest and be converted into common stock on the anniversary of the date of grant if, subject to certain exceptions, the holder remains in the employ of the Company through such date.  Award results from an election to receive a portion of the holder's 2003 incentive compensation in restricted stock units in lieu of cash.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options were granted on 10/26/00 (25,925 shares at $16.42 per share), 3/14/02 (30,000 shares at $47.67 per share), 3/10/03 (30,000 shares at $38.54 per share) and 5/4/04 (4,800 shares at $42.35 per share).  Option granted prior to 1/1/01 have a term of ten years from the date of grant and options granted after 1/1/01 have seven-year terms.  One-third of the options vest and become exercisable in equal installments on each of the three succeeding anniversaries of the date of grant if, subject to certain exceptions, the holder remains in the employ of the Company through such dates.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anthony C. Scarfone</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
