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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-11-15</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>EVP, Merch &amp; Supply Chain Mgt</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1127</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.90</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>52212</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>265</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.90</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29994</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares withheld for payment of taxes in connection with the vesting of 4,506 restricted stock units granted on November 15, 2011</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 12,445 restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares withheld for payment of taxes in connection with the vesting of 3,004 restricted stock units granted on November 15, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 8,841 restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Russell T. Libby, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2012-11-15
0000096021
SYSCO CORP
SYY
0001469366
Day William B.
1390 ENCLAVE PARKWAY
HOUSTON
TX
77077
0
1
0
0
EVP, Merch & Supply Chain Mgt
Common Stock
2012-11-15
4
F
0
1127
29.90
D
52212
D
Common Stock
2012-11-15
4
F
0
265
29.90
D
29994
I
Spouse
Shares withheld for payment of taxes in connection with the vesting of 4,506 restricted stock units granted on November 15, 2011
Includes 12,445 restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.
Shares withheld for payment of taxes in connection with the vesting of 3,004 restricted stock units granted on November 15, 2011.
Includes 8,841 restricted stock units that may be settled solely by delivery of an equal number of shares of common stock.
/s/Russell T. Libby, attorney-in-fact
2012-11-19