<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-09</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0000053669</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JOHNSON CONTROLS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>JCI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001205033</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLACK NATALIE A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Phantom Stock Units/Directors' Deferred Comp Plan</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>83.82</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>60</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>83.82</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2018-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2018-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>60</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1874</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The phantom stock units were accrued under the Johnson Controls Directors' Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be settled 100% in cash upon the reporting person's retirement.  This is an estimated date entered only for SEC filing purposes.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 9 phantom stock units acquired pursuant to dividend reinvestment on March 31, 2003, at a price of $72.44 per phantom stock unit.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Arlene D. Gumm Attorney-In-Fact for Natalie A. Black</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

