-----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,
 D/y4QWZkNEewU1cHsMosAf8q8KJToTjyXdXtdQqOxWCLGgEo/y0pVHfdfB9gp5bP
 E2IizIyPUGSs4owjuKBF2A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000916459-11-000008.txt : 20110104
<SEC-HEADER>0000916459-11-000008.hdr.sgml : 20110104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110104140224
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000916459-11-000008
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SZEWS CHARLES L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001230604

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13215
		FILM NUMBER:		11504767

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
		CITY:			QUINCY
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62305
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2172225400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 GARDNER EXPRESSWAY
		CITY:			QUINCY
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			62305

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GARDNER DENVER MACHINERY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931221
</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>2010-12-31</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230604</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SZEWS CHARLES L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>OSHKOSH TRUCK CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2307 OREGON STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OSHKOSH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>54902</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stk Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>250.6</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>67.8493</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>250.6</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6756.6</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The security converts to common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These phantom stock units were credited under the Company's Phantom Stock Plan for Outside Directors (the &quot;Phantom Plan&quot;) as a result of an election by the reporting person to defer compensation.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The cash value of these units will be distributed to the director or beneficiary on the first day of the month following the date upon which the director ceases to be a director of the Company for any reason (unless otherwise elected by the director in accordance with the terms of the Phantom Plan).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Cumulative phantom stock units accumulated by director during his Board tenure.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Brent A. Walters, Attorney-in-fact for Charles L. Szews, pursuant to Power of Attorney dated November 13, 2009 and filed with the SEC on January 5, 2010.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Brent A. Walters, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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