<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096021</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYSCO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SYY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189793</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLASSCOCK LARRY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77077</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>2012-03-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>419</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14758</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>209</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14967</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares elected to be received in lieu of non-employee director annual cash retainer fees pursuant to 2009 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.  The receipt of these shares has been deferred pursuant to the 2009 Board of Directors Stock Deferral Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents company match equal to 50% of shares described in Footnote 1.  The receipt of these shares has been deferred pursuant to the 2009 Board of Directors Stock Deferral Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The receipt of 14,297 of these shares has been deferred pursuant to the 2009 Board of Directors Stock Deferral Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Russell T. Libby, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0305
4
2012-03-30
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001189793
GLASSCOCK LARRY C
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2012-03-30
4
A
0
419
29.78
A
14758
D
Common Stock
2012-03-30
4
A
0
209
29.78
A
14967
D
Represents shares elected to be received in lieu of non-employee director annual cash retainer fees pursuant to 2009 Non-Employee Directors Stock Plan.  The receipt of these shares has been deferred pursuant to the 2009 Board of Directors Stock Deferral Plan.
Represents company match equal to 50% of shares described in Footnote 1.  The receipt of these shares has been deferred pursuant to the 2009 Board of Directors Stock Deferral Plan.
The receipt of 14,297 of these shares has been deferred pursuant to the 2009 Board of Directors Stock Deferral Plan.
/s/Russell T. Libby, attorney-in-fact
2012-03-30