-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OAvSuPYWACuCD11N3Su3GAOAbiAduZjeLkswGLnyFJ0wDsOC2iZUB4Mpo7Cc83aw
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-03-019970.txt : 20030903
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-03-019970.hdr.sgml : 20030903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030903192425
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-03-019970
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030829
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030903

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DANAHER CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000313616
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASUREMENT, DISPLAY, AND CONTROL [3823]
		IRS NUMBER:				591995548
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE N.W., 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2028280850

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE. N.W., 12TH FLOOR
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DMG INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MCMAHON CHRIS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205257

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08089
		FILM NUMBER:		03880127

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		DANAHER CORP
		STREET 2:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW 12TH FL
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2029280850

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		DANAHER CORP
		STREET 2:		2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVE NW 12TH FL
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-08-29</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000313616</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DANAHER CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DHR</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205257</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCMAHON CHRIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2099 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20006</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
      <officerTitle>VP--Controller</officerTitle>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Executive Deferred Income Plan - Danaher Stock Fund</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>0</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-08-29</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>38.835</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>0</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
          <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
          <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>38.835</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>4325.95</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
          <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Compensation deferred under the Danaher stock fund included in Danaher's Executive Deferred Income Plan (the "EDIP Stock Fund") is deemed to be invested in a number of unfunded, notional units equal to the number of units which would have been credited if such amounts had been invested in the Danaher stock fund included in Danaher's 401(k) plan (the "401(k) Stock Fund").  The 401(k) Stock Fund is comprised of a unitized pool of Danaher common stock and cash, and as such does not allocate a specific number of shares of Danaher common stock to each participant.  The notional units in the EDIP Stock Fund appreciate at the same rate of appreciation as the units in the 401(k) Stock Fund.
</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">The number of derivative securities described in the Table II, Items 5 and 7 is equal to (a) the amount acquired into or contributed to the EDIP Stock Fund on the date reported in Item 3 above, divided by (b) the closing price of Danaher common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the date reported in Item 3 above.  The number of derivative securities described in Table II, Item 9 is equal to (a) the reporting person's balance in the EDIP Stock Fund as of the date reported in Item 3 above, divided by (b) the closing price of Danaher common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the date reported in Item 3 above.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">The reporting person immediately vests in 100% of each voluntary contribution to the EDIP Stock Fund.  The reporting person immediately vests in 2/3 of each company contribution to their EDIP Stock Fund, with the remaining 1/3 of the contribution vesting 100% upon the reporting person's death, or upon retirement following at least 5 years of service with Danaher and reaching the age of 55, in accordance with the plan.  Upon termination of employment, the vested portion of the EDIP Stock Fund is settled in either cash, Danaher common stock or a combination of cash and Danaher common stock, at the reporting person's election.
</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">As of the close of business on September 2, 2003, the record-keeping for the balances in the EDIP Stock Fund will change from the methodology described in footnotes 1 and 2.  All notional balances in the EDIP Danaher Stock Fund as of such time will be converted, for record-keeping purposes, into a number of notional shares equal to the quotient of (1) such balance, divided by (2) the closing price of Danaher common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on September 2, 2003.
</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>James O'Reilly, attorney-in-fact for Christopher McMahon</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-08-29</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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