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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,
 AF78Me/eveQBa7fHUf+fWnJEYL70t+n+K5qzVuLe9p71JtTq5BaRF6yxIT7SxaOZ
 X0t+K3NtHHNdlII6gNX1/A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001189271-03-000002.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0001189271-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031031172519
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001189271-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031030
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031031

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:			NORTON SARILEE K
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189271

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05971
		FILM NUMBER:		03970979

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE PARKWAY N.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 550
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472369300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE PARKWAY N.
		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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000108215</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WOODHEAD INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>wdhd</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189271</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NORTON SARILEE K</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>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Woodhead Industries, Inc. Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5296.851</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.46</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</
equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-04-30</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-10-30</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">In connection with the Stockholder Rights Plan adopted by
 the Company on April 24, 1996, Preferred Stock Purchase Rights were distributed to stockholders and are deemed to be attached to the shares of Common Stock of the Company listed on this Form. If and when the rights become exercisable, the holders initially would be entitled to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $65.00 (both the number and shares and the purchase price are subject to adjustment).</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert J. Tortorello for Sarilee K. Norton by Power of Attorney previously filed</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-31</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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