-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V88t/iYNiP9Gx1SUXeg0iCZK+t+CIw1E4AUvocUosr5btG9pHHt3pygJqBy8eCbH
 tNrejIqR4nalXMi0RSGkHg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000916459-10-000018.txt : 20100219
<SEC-HEADER>0000916459-10-000018.hdr.sgml : 20100219
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100219123340
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000916459-10-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100217
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100219
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100219

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARDNER DENVER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000916459
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GENERAL INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3560]
		IRS NUMBER:				760419383
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 528
		CITY:			QUINCY
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62301
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2172225400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 528
		CITY:			QUINCY
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62301

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GARDNER DENVER MACHINERY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HIPP RAYMOND R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188214

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13215
		FILM NUMBER:		10618813

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		GARDNER DENVER, INC.
		STREET 2:		1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY
		CITY:			QUINCY
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62305
</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>2010-02-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916459</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GARDNER DENVER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188214</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HIPP RAYMOND R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GARDNER DENVER, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>QUINCY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>62305</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38764</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>43.31</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29764</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonemployee Director Stock Option (Right-to-buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>9000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options granted under the Company's Long-Term Incentive Plan, as amended, a Rule 16b-3 plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Diana C. Toman, Attorney-in-fact for Raymond R. Hipp, pursuant to Power of Attorney dated November 13, 2009 and filed with the SEC on January 5, 2010.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Diana C. Toman, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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