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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,
 AWOAQHczIADKeLPzLN/fyM4cC3kaUB6guZvcUEu7MTXpy8ot+EXzDAm1koSkRRxg
 Vygk9jzeTnZXouE7/79t3A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000867579-03-000295.txt : 20031029
<SEC-HEADER>0000867579-03-000295.hdr.sgml : 20031029
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031029211949
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000867579-03-000295
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:			LAUER DALE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205168

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06563
		FILM NUMBER:		03964998

	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>0001205168</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAUER DALE E</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>President, SBI-Safeco Ins. Co.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>5.749</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>33.60</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>
Common Stock </value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>5.749</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1106.103</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-10-27</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>35.69</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>33.60</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><v
alue>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock </value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>35.69</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1141.793</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1 for 1</footnote><footnote id="F2">These Phantom Stock Units accrued under the Safeco Deferred Compensation Plan for Executives and will be settled in cash following termination of the reporting person's service as an officer of Safeco Corporation. </footnote><footnote id="F3">These Phantom S
tock Units were acquired under the Safeco Deferred Compensation Plan for Executives from dividends received on restricted stock rights held by the reporting person and will be settled in cash following termination of the reporting person's service as an officer of Safeco Corporation. </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Stephanie Daley-Watson,  Attorney-in-Fact for Dale E. Lauer </signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-29</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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