<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000899171-03-000055
<TYPE>4/A
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20030521
<FILING-DATE>20030523
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>KRASNY MICHARLE P
<CIK>0000942499
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4/A
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21796
<FILM-NUMBER>03717064
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>812 SKOKIE BLVD
<CITY>NORTHBROOK
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60062
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CDW COMPUTER CENTERS INC
<CIK>0000899171
<ASSIGNED-SIC>5961
<IRS-NUMBER>363310735
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>IL
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>200 N MILWAUKEE AVE
<CITY>VERNON HILLS
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60061
<PHONE>8474656000
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>200 N MILWAUKEE AVE
<CITY>VERNON HILLS
<STATE>IL
<ZIP>60061
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-21</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-05-21</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000899171</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CDW COMPUTER CENTERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDWC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000942499</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KRASNY MICHARLE P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>62268</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>.0042</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>23206449</value><footnoteId id="F1"/><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1998-08-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>38305</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Son</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The reporting person established the MPK Stock Option Plan out of his personal holdings to which he granted options to acquire a total of 16,573,500 shares to certain key employees of CDW Computer Centers, Inc.  On May 21, 2003, two of these employees exercised options to acquire at total of 62,268 shares of common stock at an exercise price of $.004175 per share under the MPK Stock Option Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 795,953 shares remaining subject to the MPK Stock Option Plan, with respect to such shares Mr. Krasny disclaims beneficial ownership.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert J. Welyki, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
