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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,
 DAk5XIfZDffoQdL9qavPmTd2TpSnM2zkZneqPN8Eszx+WOjAPqeOZWw5AddPT332
 IogoMcJ0bem2i89YfX5C1g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188655-03-000001.txt : 20030911
<SEC-HEADER>0001188655-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030911
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030911174825
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188655-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030911
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030911

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NESBEDA EUGENE P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188655

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05971
		FILM NUMBER:		03892543

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 PARKWAY NORTH
		STREET 2:		STE 550
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472369300

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODHEAD INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000108215
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS, NEC [3679]
		IRS NUMBER:				361982580
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE PKWY NORTH
		STREET 2:		STE 550
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8472369300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THREE PWKY NORTH
		STREET 2:		STE 550
		CITY:			DEERFIELD
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60015

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	WOODHEAD DANIEL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710624
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-11</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000108215</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WOODHEAD INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WDHD</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188655</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NESBEDA EUGENE P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3 PARKWAY NORTH, SUITE 550</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Woodhead Industries, Inc., Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>11.375</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5000</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><
natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.375</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-11</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>M</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>2000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1999-04-27</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2003-10-27</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</v
alue></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">In connection with the Stockholder Rights Plan adopted by the Company on April 24, 1996, Preferred Stock Purchase Rights were distributed to stockholders and are deemed to be attached to the shares of Common Stock of the Company listed on this Form. If and when the rights become exercisable, the holders initially would be entitled to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of Preferred Stock at a purchase price of $65.00 (both the number and shares and the purchase price are subject to adjustment).</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Robert J. Tortorello for Eugene P. Nesbeda by Po
wer of Attorney previously filed</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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