-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AskSwBHjP/Oix9pM2pvlDDMarVWKj8ia1Omim1B2yXmws37SEeS880gJI974MFxp
 WStJZApmzXXBvcMf+vqcMA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001254183-09-000012.txt : 20090213
<SEC-HEADER>0001254183-09-000012.hdr.sgml : 20090213
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090213110334
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001254183-09-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090213
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090213

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Forrester Sean F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001415416

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04879
		FILM NUMBER:		09599338

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		330-490-5004

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5995 MAYFAIR ROAD
		CITY:			NORTH CANTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44720

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DIEBOLD INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000028823
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CALCULATING & ACCOUNTING MACHINES (NO ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS) [3578]
		IRS NUMBER:				340183970
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 3077
		STREET 2:		5995 MAYFAIR RD
		CITY:			CANTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44720-8077
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3304904000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 3077
		CITY:			CANTON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44720-8077
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-02-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000028823</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DIEBOLD INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DBD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001415416</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Forrester Sean F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DIEBOLD, INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5995 MAYFAIR ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH CANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44720</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; Chief Information Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>47.27</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-02-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-02-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.53</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-02-13</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-02-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-qualified Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>24.79</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-02-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-02-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-02-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Number includes restricted stock units</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Granted under the 1991 Equity and Performance Incentive Plan; option is generally exercisable in annual increments of 25% beginning one year from date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Chad F. Hesse, Att'y.-in-fact for Sean F. Forrester</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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