<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001218164-11-000027.txt : 20110428
<SEC-HEADER>0001218164-11-000027.hdr.sgml : 20110428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110428163219
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001218164-11-000027
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110427
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110428
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110428

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Nachtsheim Stephen P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001218168

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07945
		FILM NUMBER:		11788914

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

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NACHSHEIM STEPHEN P
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20030210

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-04-27</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001218168</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nachtsheim Stephen P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>420 WALSH ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATHERTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94027</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>2011-04-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2958</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41145</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3582</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Family Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Grantor Retained Annuity Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Grantor Retained Annuity Trust (spouse)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>42.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>39.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-04-27</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-04-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Total direct ownership reported in column 5 includes 2,958 shares of restricted stock and 13,697 restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options vest in three equal installments on the three succeeding anniversary dates of the date of grant, provided the holder remains a director of the Company.  Date entered reflects date on which first installment vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anthony C. Scarfone as Power of Attorney for Stephen P. Nachtsheim</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-04-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
