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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LbhK+dsweqfJ8gL9wApdRJb5Ud4RS0rR5HqaWXR41nft24paC1Xi3lr0nrQ89u5z
 NmW5AYcgOcIR36GURzjQ4Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001289895-10-000054.txt : 20100927
<SEC-HEADER>0001289895-10-000054.hdr.sgml : 20100927
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100927143110
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001289895-10-000054
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100923
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100927
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100927

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HOVEY JAMES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001237792

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09344
		FILM NUMBER:		101090650

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AIRGAS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000804212
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [5084]
		IRS NUMBER:				560732648
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		259 N. RADNOR-CHESTER ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			RADNOR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6106875253

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		259 N. RADNOR-CHESTER ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			RADNOR
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19087
</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>2010-09-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000804212</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AIRGAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237792</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HOVEY JAMES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AIRGAS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>259 N. RADNOR-CHESTER ROAD, STE. 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RADNOR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19087</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>67.63</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-09-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These options became exercisable on the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert H. Young, Jr., Attorney-in-Fact for James W. Hovey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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