<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914190-17-000024.txt : 20170131
<SEC-HEADER>0000914190-17-000024.hdr.sgml : 20170131
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170131165926
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914190-17-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170127
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170131
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170131

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARTS WAY MANUFACTURING CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007623
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3523]
		IRS NUMBER:				420920725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1130

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 288
		CITY:			ARMSTRONG
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50514
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7128643131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 288
		CITY:			ARMSTRONG
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50514

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Murra Amber
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001453630

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05131
		FILM NUMBER:		17561837

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5556 HIGHWAY 9
		CITY:			ARMSTRONG
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50514
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007623</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARTS WAY MANUFACTURING CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARTW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001453630</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Murra Amber</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5556 HIGHWAY 9</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARMSTRONG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>50514</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>773</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.10</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16227</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents 9,000 shares of restricted stock, the restrictions on which will lapse in 3,000 share increments annually beginning on January 27, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes (i) 1,000 shares of restricted stock, the restrictions on which will lapse in 500 share increments on each of 2/13/17 and 2/13/18; (ii) 4,000 shares of restricted stock, the restrictions on which will lapse in 2,000 share increments on each of 1/29/18 and 1/29/19; and (iii) 9,000 shares of restricted stock, the restrictions on which will lapse in 3,000 share increments on each of 1/27/18, 1/27/19 and 1/27/20.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Elizabeth M. Dunshee as attorney-in-fact for Amber Murra pursuant to a power of attorney previously filed.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-01-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
