-----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,
 KYNhyee4ZqvB/28o2j7kmNNxVwP0ld/e1fVAMFcF/8l8/lHxi+3hXqBPzDFlv20z
 Smmyv7WDIP7IGOsDMHEhQA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001226579-10-000119.txt : 20101208
<SEC-HEADER>0001226579-10-000119.hdr.sgml : 20101208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101208173537
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001226579-10-000119
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101207
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Ward Jay L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001382915

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07891
		FILM NUMBER:		101240686

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. 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>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029644</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DONALDSON CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DCI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001382915</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ward Jay L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1400 WEST 94TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLOOMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55413</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7.768</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>57.51</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>595</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Benefit Plan Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6625</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Benefit Plan Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20702</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Norman C. Linnell, Attorney-in-fact for Jay L. Ward</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----