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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,
 DJjF6rtlO0Poq3peFRlAlPmfCH/O8gS3RHmE1XdlzC4DTQ8xrRqTAgxuUiEw/nt+
 KiTQhKAXCsp1L2msFjzj2g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001193393-03-000001.txt : 20031103
<SEC-HEADER>0001193393-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031103
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031031172231
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001193393-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031030
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031031

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCKANE G THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001193393

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05971
		FILM NUMBER:		03970937

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1 E SCHILLER
		STREET 2:		1D
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60610

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
</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>0001193393</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCKANE G THOMAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>A. M. CASTLE &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3400 NORTH WOLF ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FRANKLIN PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60131</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>1000</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</equi
tySwapInvolved></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 G. Thomas McKane by Power of Attorney previously filed</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-31</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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