-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Baaf+UDXgMHZh/KUAQkmOYK9mFTzhSzTXdOoRgflc3UJz3VRYGV9uqcrxlvy7bu/
 LTAkHEc4cB+qoxcVWw+R7w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001494500-10-000009.txt : 20101123
<SEC-HEADER>0001494500-10-000009.hdr.sgml : 20101123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101123172328
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001494500-10-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101123
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101123
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Sabonnadiere Emmanuel
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001494500

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12983
		FILM NUMBER:		101212447

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 TESSENEER DRIVE
		CITY:			HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41076

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENERAL CABLE CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000886035
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DRAWING AND INSULATING NONFERROUS WIRE [3357]
		IRS NUMBER:				061398235
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 TESSENEER DRIVE
		CITY:			HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41076
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8595728000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 TESSENEER DRIVE
		CITY:			HIGHLAND HEIGHTS
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			41076
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886035</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENERAL CABLE CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BGC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001494500</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sabonnadiere Emmanuel</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4 TESSENEER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HIGHLAND HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>41076</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Pres/CEO Europe/Med</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2172</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.9241</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2172</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks>Diana C. Toman, Attorney-in-fact for Emmanuel Sabonnadiere, pursuant to Power of Attorney dated July 1, 2010 and filed with the SEC on July 2, 2010.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Diana C. Toman, Attorney-in-Fact for Emmanuel Sabonnadiere</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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