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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-10</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184675</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PULLIAM LARRY G</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>EVP, Foodservice Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>158805</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.44</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>143500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-11-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>143500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>143500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.  Units vest one-third on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd anniversary of date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted stock units granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 13,100 restricted stock units that may be settled solely be delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">One-fifth of the shares covered by the grant vest and are exercisable on 11/10/2010, 11/10/2011, 11/10/2012, 11/10/2013 and 11/10/2014, respectively. No options may be exercised prior to 11/10/2010. Options will expire on 11/09/2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Options granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael C. Nichols, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2009-11-10
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001184675
PULLIAM LARRY G
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
0
1
0
0
EVP, Foodservice Operations
Common Stock
2009-11-10
4
A
0
13100
A
158805
D
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
27.44
2009-11-10
4
A
0
143500
A
2016-11-09
Common Stock
143500
143500
D
Grant of restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.  Units vest one-third on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd anniversary of date of grant.
Restricted stock units granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.
Includes 13,100 restricted stock units that may be settled solely be delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.
One-fifth of the shares covered by the grant vest and are exercisable on 11/10/2010, 11/10/2011, 11/10/2012, 11/10/2013 and 11/10/2014, respectively. No options may be exercised prior to 11/10/2010. Options will expire on 11/09/2016.
Options granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan.
/s/ Michael C. Nichols, attorney-in-fact
2009-11-12