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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-18</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001086247</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARD JACKIE M</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>2010-06-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24946</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.12</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24636.013</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>61</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $30.961 to $31.25, inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The receipt of 1,218 of these shares has been deferred pursuant to the 2009 Board of Directors Stock Deferral Plan.  Also includes shares received pursuant to Sysco's dividend reinvestment plan that were inadvertantly omitted from recent filings.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas P. Kurz, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2010-06-18
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001086247
WARD JACKIE M
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2010-06-18
4
S
0
24946
31.12
D
24636.013
D
Common Stock
61
I
Spouse
The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $30.961 to $31.25, inclusive.
The receipt of 1,218 of these shares has been deferred pursuant to the 2009 Board of Directors Stock Deferral Plan.  Also includes shares received pursuant to Sysco's dividend reinvestment plan that were inadvertantly omitted from recent filings.
/s/ Thomas P. Kurz, attorney-in-fact
2010-06-22