-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AsXrxPBXR/duo99yIR1GQQFeunPCHP5KLaH+02f8M7JwDgmkJ3RmKOh8zK0qk1zO
 uyzXsD75tEja7uFQ4MZvfg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000108215-06-000006.txt : 20060808
<SEC-HEADER>0000108215-06-000006.hdr.sgml : 20060808
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060808155451
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000108215-06-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060804
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060808
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060808

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODHEAD INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000108215
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, NEC [3679]
		IRS NUMBER:				361982580
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE PKWY NORTH
		STREET 2:		STE 550
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472369300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE PWKY NORTH
		STREET 2:		STE 550
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WOODHEAD DANIEL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710624

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MOULTON ROBERT A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185183

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05971
		FILM NUMBER:		061012972

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE PARKWAY NORTH
		STREET 2:		SUITE 550
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
</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>2006-08-04</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000108215</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WOODHEAD INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WDHD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185183</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOULTON ROBERT A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3 PARKWAY NORTH, SUITE 550</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V.P. Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Woodhead Industries, Inc. Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-08-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24009.769</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 362.769 shares allocated to Mr. Moulton's account in the Woodhead Industries, Inc. Profit Sharing and Savings Plus (401K) Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert J. Tortorello for Robert A. Moulton by Power of Attorney previously filed.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-08-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----