-----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,
 K08s29VDizJloUmoFyB19UybcTT8Zzq+z27NKmeqiJw86X5QdTbP3DtFbQ1WX3O4
 yQbAT0zyxS6/Bb0GmcMwmA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000903921-08-000004.txt : 20080522
<SEC-HEADER>0000903921-08-000004.hdr.sgml : 20080522
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080522154150
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000903921-08-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080520
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080522
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080522

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CDI CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000018396
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HELP SUPPLY SERVICES [7363]
		IRS NUMBER:				232394430
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1717 ARCH STREET
		STREET 2:		35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-2768
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2155692200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1717 ARCH STREET
		STREET 2:		35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-2768

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COMPREHEMSIVE DESINGNERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19731120

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARRISON WALTER R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903921
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05519
		FILM NUMBER:		08854669

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2155692200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1717 ARCH STREET
		STREET 2:		35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-2768
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000018396</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CDI CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARRISON WALTER R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CDI CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1717 ARCH STREET, 35TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19103-2768</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Chairman of the Board</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Time-Vested Deferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3595</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2011-05-20</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-05-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3595</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3595</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each share of Time-Vested Deferred Stock represents a contingent right to receive one share of CDI Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Walter R. Garrison</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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