-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Gj8psoY0ZeEEmIXwq6qwWF99VbmuNQQX5lLoQxNt4taMmMz53kip7EIqUW87m10J
 N4V9uTLPR6YrmfAI6AuL5Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000867579-03-000294.txt : 20031029
<SEC-HEADER>0000867579-03-000294.hdr.sgml : 20031029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031029211155
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000867579-03-000294
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031027
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031029

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SAFECO CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000086104
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				910742146
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE
		STREET 2:		SAFECO PLAZA
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98185
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2065455000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4333 BROOKLYN AVE NE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98185

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GENERAL AMERICA CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680529

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUDDY JAMES W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205174

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06563
		FILM NUMBER:		03964990

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAFECO
		STREET 2:		4333 BROOKLYN AVENUE NE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98185
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2065455000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAFECO
		STREET 2:		4333 BROOKLYN AVENUE NE
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98185
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-10-27</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000086104</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SAFECO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SAFC</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205174</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUDDY JAMES W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SAFECO PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4333 BROOKLYN AVENUE N.E.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98185</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. Vice Pres. &amp; Gen. Counsel</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>.825</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>33.60</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><valu
e>Common Stock </value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>.825</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>150.734</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">These Phantom Stock Units accrued under the Safeco Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan for Executives and will be settled in cash following termination of the reporting person's employment with Safeco Corporation.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">1 for 1 </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Stephanie Daley-Watson, Attorney-in-Fact for James W. Ruddy  </signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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