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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,
 SKbGKS8XQGEhdRiyoNywam+ncDDojUIy9dvpg/tpHrm/6uZE4+8gArArP8GoCN0k
 q7E7LhzNyDIHUeWGlzTdiQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-031509.txt : 20101223
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-031509.hdr.sgml : 20101223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101223173505
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-031509
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101222
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101223
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HURLEY JAMES R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001124175

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10109
		FILM NUMBER:		101273178

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 S. KRAEMER BLVD
		CITY:			BREA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92821

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BECKMAN COULTER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000840467
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				951040600
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 S. KRAEMER BOULEVARD
		CITY:			BREA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92822
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7147736907

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		250 S. KRAEMER BOULEVARD
		CITY:			BREA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92822

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BECKMAN INSTRUMENTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-22</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000840467</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BECKMAN COULTER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BEC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001124175</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HURLEY JAMES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>250 S. KRAEMER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BREA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92821</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Interim President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14.392</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14.392</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11107.4669</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1-for-1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents stock units contributed by the Company under the Executive Restoration Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares underlying phantom stock units become payable upon reporting person's termination of service as an employee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Daniel B. Kim by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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