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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,
 TQ1ekmWmZrU1+ut1naCL6cn96yQC+6wITm5YflWBxJ1GQidw33/5Sq3RMn12eHyD
 kcL+OMy3LblNSWU8rmMV5g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001052045-03-000192.txt : 20031001
<SEC-HEADER>0001052045-03-000192.hdr.sgml : 20031001
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031001113021
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001052045-03-000192
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030930
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ENGEL MITCHELL T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182080
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14762
		FILM NUMBER:		03919459

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SERVICEMASTER
		STREET 2:		2300 WARRENSVILLE ROAD
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6302712875

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SERVICEMASTER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001052045
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-MANAGEMENT SERVICES [8741]
		IRS NUMBER:				363858106
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3250 LACEY ROAD, SUITE 600
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6306632700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3250 LACEY ROAD, SUITE 600
		CITY:			DOWNERS GROVE
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60515
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001182080d20031001f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-30</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0001052045</issuerCik><issuerName>SERVICEMASTER CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVM</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001182080</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ENGEL MITCHELL T</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>3250 LACEY ROAD, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>DOWNERS GROVE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>60515-1700</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Marketing Officer</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></rep
ortingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common stock $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>19800</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common stock $.01 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-30</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>34</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>10.26</value></transac
tionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4265</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Deferred Comp</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>2000 Emplee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.88</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-03-18</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-18</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><shares
OwnedFollowingTransaction><value>60000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>2000 Emplee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.73</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-04-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-04-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common stock $.01 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityValue><value>200000</value></underlyingSecurityValue></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><valueOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>200000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></valueOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></di
rectOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The deferred shares represent phantom stock units accrued under the ServiceMaster Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F2">The option is exercisable in five equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of the grant.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Sandra L. Groman by power of atty</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-10-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</TEXT>
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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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