-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001235110-10-000253.txt : 20101222
<SEC-HEADER>0001235110-10-000253.hdr.sgml : 20101222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101222170720
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001235110-10-000253
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101221
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BAER RICHARD N
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241852

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15577
		FILM NUMBER:		101269545

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001037949
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS (NO RADIO TELEPHONE) [4813]
		IRS NUMBER:				841339282
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 CALIFORNIA ST
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3039921400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 CALIFORNIA ST
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80202

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	QUEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970416
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
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    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2010-12-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001037949</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>Q</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241852</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BAER RICHARD N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1800 CALIFORNIA, SUITE 5200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
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        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP, General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionCoding>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) plan</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
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                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>483000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>966000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance shares</value>
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                <value>2010-12-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>326000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>652000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On December 21, 2010, the Board of Directors approved the acceleration of vesting and settlement at the 200% payout level of performance shares granted to the reporting person on March 5, 2008, March 5, 2009 and March 5, 2010 in accordance with Rule 16b-3(d) and Rule 16b-3(e).  The performance shares were settled in stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On December 21, 2010, the Board of Directors approved the acceleration of vesting of restricted stock granted to the reporting person on March 5, 2008, March 5, 2009 and March 5, 2010 in accordance with Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Based on plan holdings as of December 21, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each performance share represented a contingent right to receive one share of Qwest common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jennifer A. D'Alessandro, as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----