-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q5DBOaqEPuSjgO7J3BYLevdEr1T/sNxTnD55AP4h0QSyDQOihvq5Skn2pq2Tr7QQ
 pThdQ5jl5cCmDjmh+Ci79Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000089800-03-000146.txt : 20030623
<SEC-HEADER>0000089800-03-000146.hdr.sgml : 20030623
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030623131842
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000089800-03-000146
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030620
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030623

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			IVY CONWAY G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001203520

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	033-28585
		FILM NUMBER:		03752999

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O THE SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO
		STREET 2:		101 PROSPECT AVE N W
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000089800
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-BUILDING MATERIALS, HARDWARE, GARDEN SUPPLY [5200]
		IRS NUMBER:				340526850
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 PROSPECT AVE NW
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44115
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2165662200
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-20</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000089800</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SHERWIN WILLIAMS CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SHW</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203520</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>IVY CONWAY G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Sr. VP-Corp. Plan. Develop.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units </value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>10.27</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-06-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>68.02</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>10.27</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSec
urity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>58724.36</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Acquisition of phantom stock units (in an exempt transaction) under deferred compensation plan(s) to be settled generally upon the Reporting Person's retirement or termination of employment, subject to diversification provisions of the plan(s).  The plan(s) utilize unit accounting, with phantom stock units consisting primarily of phantom shares of common stock and a small percentage of short-term investments.  On April 1, 1997, units were assigned a begi
nning per unit price of $10.00.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes phantom stock units acquired pursuant to the dividend equivalent reinvestment feature of the plan(s).</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Louis E. Stellato, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----