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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000313616</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DANAHER CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DHR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001608367</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>King William</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2200 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, NW, SUITE 800W</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20037</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Executive Deferred Incentive Program - Danaher Stock Fund</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionCoding>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12.44</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>78.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>12.44</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13302.811</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reported securities represent phantom shares in the Danaher stock fund (the &quot;EDIP Stock Fund&quot;) acquired under Danaher's Executive Deferred Incentive Program (the &quot;EDIP&quot;). The number of phantom shares is calculated based on the closing price of Danaher common stock as reported on the NYSE on the date such contributions are credited to the EDIP Stock Fund, which is the price shown in Table II, Column 8 above.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The notional shares convert on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The phantom share acquisitions reported herein represent either voluntary deferrals from salary or bonus or notional dividend accruals on phantom shares; the reporting person is fully vested in the phantom shares attributable to voluntary deferrals and dividends thereon.   With respect to dividend accruals on Company contributions to the reporting person's EDIP account, the reporting person will vest in such amounts as follows: 100% upon the earlier of the reporting person's death, or upon retirement following at least 5 years of service with Danaher and reaching the age of 55, or, if earlier, one-tenth per year of participation following five years of participation, in each case in accordance with the plan.  Upon termination of employment, the EDIP Stock Fund is settled in shares of Danaher common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James F. O'Reilly, attorney-in-fact for William King</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
