<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-11-19</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000094673</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STK</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000900471</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ODOM JUDY C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE STORAGETEK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOUISVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80028</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.00</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-11-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>29000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-19</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-11-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>29000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>29000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">5,000 shares become exercisable on 05/19/2004; 4,667 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2004;  4,666 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2005; 4,666 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2006; 3,333 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2007; 3,334 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2008; and 3,334 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2009.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Donald H. Kronenberg, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-11-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-11-19
0000094673
STORAGE TECHNOLOGY CORP
STK
0000900471
ODOM JUDY C
ONE STORAGETEK DRIVE
LOUISVILLE
CO
80028
1
0
0
0
Stock Options (Right to buy)
25.00
2003-11-19
4
A
0
29000
0
A
2004-05-19
2013-11-19
Common Stock
29000
29000
D
5,000 shares become exercisable on 05/19/2004; 4,667 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2004;  4,666 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2005; 4,666 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2006; 3,333 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2007; 3,334 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2008; and 3,334 shares become exercisable on 11/19/2009.
Donald H. Kronenberg, Attorney-in-Fact
2003-11-21