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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P5YqFN+FhkMVhuTX1S0Lo6PXbCixmVwMm8vmdEwPJjIBDXNKjL85VchSJy0gHwvO
 1zMvDjaBZxjy7oBysW3xvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001425291-08-000003.txt : 20081117
<SEC-HEADER>0001425291-08-000003.hdr.sgml : 20081117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081117113335
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001425291-08-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081117

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALDWIN & LYONS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009346
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				350160330
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 N MERIDIAN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3176369800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1099 NORTH MERIDIAN ST
		STREET 2:		STE 700
		CITY:			INDIANAPOLIS
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46204

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BALDWIN H C AGENCY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720309

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Bonini Mark Leonard
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001425291

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05534
		FILM NUMBER:		081194463

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		317-429-2682

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13412 KINGRAIL WAY
		CITY:			CARMEL
		STATE:			IN
		ZIP:			46033
</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>2008-11-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000009346</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BALDWIN &amp; LYONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BWINA / B</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001425291</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Bonini Mark Leonard</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13412 KINGRAIL WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARMEL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46033</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>G. Patrick Corydon on behalf of Mark L. Bonini</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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