-----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,
 PDdkYNIODRodr+h5nSd8pJ9DkxLbDRQ/QUzld6koReSnMpydjFkrnhs1ia6p68p9
 aZ7GD3WdNHcah3XDWsueFg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001216454-08-000006.txt : 20080528
<SEC-HEADER>0001216454-08-000006.hdr.sgml : 20080528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080528134618
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001216454-08-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080524
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080528
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080528

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:			KARLSON LAWRENCE C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216454

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05519
		FILM NUMBER:		08863054

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CDI CORP
		STREET 2:		1717 ARCH ST 35TH FLOOR
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103-2768
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2156361115

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CDI CORP.
		STREET 2:		1717 ARCH ST 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>2008-05-24</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216454</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KARLSON LAWRENCE C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CDI CORP.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1717 ARCH ST., 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>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3367</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.65</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>77789</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>174</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>26.65</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>77963</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Purchase Plan Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3367</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.78</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-05-24</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-05-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3367</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This was the closing price per share of Common Stock on the last preceding trading date prior to the date that the Stock Purchase Plan units vested (which was on a weekend) and were converted into shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares represent the aggregate value of the dividends paid on Common Stock between the date that the Reporting Person acquired the Stock Purchase Plan units and the date that those units vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Upon vesting, Stock Purchase Plan units convert into shares of Common Stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This was the closing price per share of Common Stock on the date that the Stock Purchase Plan units were acquired.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lawrence C. Karlson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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