-----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,
 T0yvkqznKCElntKTU2bOwLUbN1p1szmZ0BWGNy0lE8gCJEeEGcSUAZnY49Zp/htk
 R2ihadNo+AABD8qbdLcnsA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000075252-10-000009.txt : 20100205
<SEC-HEADER>0000075252-10-000009.hdr.sgml : 20100205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100205095826
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000075252-10-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100203
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100205
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100205

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OWENS & MINOR INC/VA/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075252
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-MEDICAL, DENTAL & HOSPITAL EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES [5047]
		IRS NUMBER:				541701843
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			VA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9120 LOCKWOOD BLVD
		CITY:			MECHANICSVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8047237000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9120 LOCKWOOD BLVD
		CITY:			MECHANICSVILLE
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23116

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	O&M HOLDING INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940504

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OWENS & MINOR INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OWENS MINOR & BODEKER INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19811124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FOGG RICHARD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001223762

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09810
		FILM NUMBER:		10575848

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OWENS & MINOR
		STREET 2:		4800 COX RD.
		CITY:			GLEN ALLEN
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			23060
</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>2010-02-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075252</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OWENS &amp; MINOR INC/VA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OMI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001223762</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FOGG RICHARD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9120 LOCKWOOD BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MECHANICSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23116</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>83</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.08</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>83</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20074</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>48</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.97</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>48</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20122</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of phantom stock are convertible on a 1-for-1 basis and become payable, in cash or common stock, at the election of the reporting person, upon the occurrence of one of the following (as elected in advance by the reporting person): (a) death, (b) disability, (c) termination of service as director, (d) specified future delivery date, or (e) the earliest to occur of (a), (b), (c) or (d).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard E. Fogg by Rosemarie France POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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