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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-09-12</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001469366</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Day William B.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77077</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-09-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>32000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>124819</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>2014-09-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>32000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.96</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>92819</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.39</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-09-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>32000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>32000</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">The exercises and sales were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the Reporting Person on August 13, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported is a weighted average sale price per share of all shares sold on this date.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $37.70 to $38.25.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to Sysco Corporation, any security holder of Sysco Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in the footnote to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes (i) 24,592 restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock and (ii) 21,153 shares previously held indirectly through Mr. Day's spouse, which are now owned directly by the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Options are fully exercisable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Options granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/b Russell T. Libby, attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-09-12
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001469366
Day William B.
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
0
1
0
0
Executive Vice President
Common Stock
2014-09-12
4
M
0
32000
33.39
A
124819
D
Common Stock
2014-09-12
4
S
0
32000
37.96
D
92819
D
Stock Options (Right to buy)
33.39
2014-09-12
4
M
0
32000
0
D
2014-11-12
Common Stock
32000
0
D
The exercises and sales were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the Reporting Person on August 13, 2014.
The price reported is a weighted average sale price per share of all shares sold on this date.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $37.70 to $38.25.  The Reporting Person undertakes to provide to Sysco Corporation, any security holder of Sysco Corporation, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in the footnote to this Form 4.
Includes (i) 24,592 restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock and (ii) 21,153 shares previously held indirectly through Mr. Day's spouse, which are now owned directly by the reporting person.
Options are fully exercisable.
Options granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
s/b Russell T. Libby, attorney in fact
2014-10-01