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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TehxqxUpAOhPAC/gIghX6epLncdBtCso0w3my9q+FO8XTC9QnYOt6wyMLqPw/vJY
 qSwZGEGEawWIRmlfs5GK4Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001284409-04-000015.txt : 20040610
<SEC-HEADER>0001284409-04-000015.hdr.sgml : 20040610
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040610160420
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001284409-04-000015
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040601
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040610

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VALENTINE RUSS C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001019004
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11975
		FILM NUMBER:		04858424

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMERICAN GENERAL HOSPITALITY CORP
		STREET 2:		3860 WEST NORTHWEST HIGHWAY
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75220
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2149042000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMERICAN GENERAL HOSPITALITY CORP
		STREET 2:		3860 WEST NORTHWEST HIGHWAY
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75220

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOYKIN LODGING CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015859
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				341824586
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GUILDHALL BLDG 45 W PROSPECT AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2164301200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GUILDHALL BLDG 45 W PROSPECT AVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1500
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BOYKIN LODGING TRUST INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960604
</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>2004-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001015859</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOYKIN LODGING CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001019004</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>VALENTINE RUSS C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>45 W. PROSPECT AVE., SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44115</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP - Acquisitions</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares, without par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4235</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75492</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares, without par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>448</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>75044</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common shares, without par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2223.32</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Profit Sharing Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">2,823 of these Common shares are restricted shares.  1,412 of the Common shares will vest on January 1, 2005 and 1,411 of the Common shares will vest on January 1, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Andrew C. Alexander, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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