-----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,
 MbAY6WZ2KcoeaPAsVRmwf0Mr2YkuM+lz5Ft5bY7VoB2hl8HOO+W0Ti5IYpow43v+
 iO5fwnIMztJBpc7VawK9Aw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001204062-04-000003.txt : 20041013
<SEC-HEADER>0001204062-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20041013
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041013175640
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001204062-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041013
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041013

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NELSON M BRUCE
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001204062

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10948
		FILM NUMBER:		041077748

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		OFFICE DEPOT
		STREET 2:		2200 OLD GERMANTOWN RD.
		CITY:			DELRAY BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33445

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OFFICE DEPOT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000800240
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940]
		IRS NUMBER:				592663954
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 OLD GERMANTOWN RD
		CITY:			DELRAY BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33445
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5612664800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2200 OLD GERMANTOWN ROAD
		STREET 2:		2200 OLD GERMANTOWN ROAD
		CITY:			DELRAY BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33445
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>nel98.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000800240</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OFFICE DEPOT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ODP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001204062</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NELSON M BRUCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2200 OLD GERMANTOWN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>MAIL CODE: LEGL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DELRAY BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33445</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer**</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>86514</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>360</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Custodian For Child</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As of October 12, 2004, Beneficial Holdings on Table I have been updated to include 436 shares in the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) reflecting a recent transfer of 9,780 shares from the reporting person?s ESPP account to his individual account, which transfer is exempt from Section 16 reporting under Rule 16a-13.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>** As of the date of this transaction, Mr. Nelson has since resigned.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Brian Dan, Attorney-in-Fact for:</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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