<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914190-13-000197.txt : 20130315
<SEC-HEADER>0000914190-13-000197.hdr.sgml : 20130315
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130315103329
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914190-13-000197
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130315
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130315

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Peterson Nancy P.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001571365

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09587
		FILM NUMBER:		13692583

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		905 MAIN STREET
		CITY:			HOPKINS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55343

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELECTRO SENSORS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000351789
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823]
		IRS NUMBER:				410943459
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6111 BLUE CIRCLE DR
		CITY:			MINNETONKA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55343-9108
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9529300100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6111 BLUE CIRCLE DR
		CITY:			MINNETONKA
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55343
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-11</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000351789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELECTRO SENSORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ELSE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001571365</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Peterson Nancy P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>805 MAIN STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOPKINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55343</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1255151</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11400</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>This Form 3 is being filed as a result of Peter R. Peterson's death on January 11, 2011. In the Issuer's proxy statement filed March 9, 2010, Peter R. Peterson was listed as owning 1,266,551 shares of common stock, which included 5,850 shares held by his spouse, Nancy Peterson, and 11,400 shares held in his IRA plan.  Other than the 5,850 shares previously held by Nancy Peterson, the shares subject to this filing were acquired by operation of law upon the death of her husband, Peter R. Peterson.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Nancy P. Peterson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-03-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
