-----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,
 CECnwRio4M8sNA1hYZD+1hHjRk5ZPDZ4d+XLclDwzjL+bTNQbG/bQSL7g7Vxxozy
 N+AbsJnIvkTB/ePVVtPEKA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001226579-03-000146.txt : 20031217
<SEC-HEADER>0001226579-03-000146.hdr.sgml : 20031217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031217135012
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001226579-03-000146
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031216
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCMURRAY CHARLES J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264974

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07891
		FILM NUMBER:		031059617

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 1299
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55440-1299

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DONALDSON CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000029644
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL & COMMERCIAL FANS & BLOWERS & AIR PURIFYING EQUIP [3564]
		IRS NUMBER:				410222640
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 W. 94TH ST.
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55431
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6128873131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1400 W 94TH STREET
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55431
</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>2003-12-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029644</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DONALDSON CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264974</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCMURRAY CHARLES J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1400 WEST 94TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLOOMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55431-2303</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, Human Resources</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4.733</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>59.16</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>218</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnersh
ip><value>By Benefit Plan Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2108</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>9689</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Benefit Plan Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks>Individual holds 9,907 shares indirectly and 2,108 shares directly<
/remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Norman C. Linnell, Attorney-in-fact for Charles McMurray</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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