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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-11-13</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001269686</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ELMER G MITCHELL</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>SVP; Controller; CAO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7835</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40244</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </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>29.96</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-11-12</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 16,275 restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">One-fifth of the shares covered by the grant vest and are exercisable on 11/13/2013, 11/13/2014, 11/13/2015, 11/13/2016, 11/13/2017, respectively. No options may be exercised prior to 11/13/2013.  Options will expire on 11/12/2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">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/Thomas P. Kurz, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-11-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2012-11-13
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001269686
ELMER G MITCHELL
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
0
1
0
0
SVP; Controller; CAO
Common Stock
2012-11-13
4
A
0
7835
0
A
40244
D
Stock Options (Right to buy)
29.96
2012-11-13
4
A
0
60000
0
A
2019-11-12
Common Stock
60000
60000
D
Restricted stock units granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
Includes 16,275 restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.
One-fifth of the shares covered by the grant vest and are exercisable on 11/13/2013, 11/13/2014, 11/13/2015, 11/13/2016, 11/13/2017, respectively. No options may be exercised prior to 11/13/2013.  Options will expire on 11/12/2019.
Options granted by the Compensation Committee of the Company's Board of Directors pursuant to the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.
/s/Thomas P. Kurz, attorney-in-fact
2012-11-20