-----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,
 E8QkKaButNXSpE+GBJM/sTA/tc3vmYl8ptOrOyT8FTJQuV9aimus9XUejLNJKtIJ
 0L4mOR9/nrN8abYKNKw0ng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000230498-09-000116.txt : 20090916
<SEC-HEADER>0000230498-09-000116.hdr.sgml : 20090916
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090916122836
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000230498-09-000116
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090915
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090916
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090916

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUBRIGHT JAMES A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174282

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12613
		FILM NUMBER:		091071512

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 4098
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30091

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Rock-Tenn CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000230498
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPERBOARD CONTAINERS & BOXES [2650]
		IRS NUMBER:				620342590
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		504 THRASHER STREET
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(770) 448-2193

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 4098
		CITY:			NORCROSS
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30091

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ROCK TENN CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19931223
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-09-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000230498</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Rock-Tenn CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RKT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174282</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUBRIGHT JAMES A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>504 THRASHER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORCROSS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>49.3384</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>210582</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold at average price of $49.3384 per share.  Prices ranging from $48.51 to $50.30.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert B. McIntosh (attorney-in-fact pursuant to power of attorney previously filed with SEC)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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