-----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,
 WowJ90HegM+AG7VyoS0WU/rSou56daCwJOukpsU3HkU1Vlhegz6GlWWt/StUrrZl
 8psjWzrqZO0INuRD+dw5vQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000812074-09-000044.txt : 20090428
<SEC-HEADER>0000812074-09-000044.hdr.sgml : 20090428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090428170706
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000812074-09-000044
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090424
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090428
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090428

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YOUNG THOMAS L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001211666

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09576
		FILM NUMBER:		09776456

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		OWENS ILLINOIS INC
		STREET 2:		ONE SEAGATE
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43666

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OWENS ILLINOIS INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000812074
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GLASS CONTAINERS [3221]
		IRS NUMBER:				222781933
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MICHAEL OWENS WAY
		CITY:			PERRYSBURG
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43551-2999
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5673365000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MICHAEL OWENS WAY
		CITY:			PERRYSBURG
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43551-2999

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OWENS ILLINOIS HOLDINGS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870512
</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>2009-04-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812074</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OWENS ILLINOIS INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001211666</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YOUNG THOMAS L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE MICHAEL OWENS WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PERRYSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43551</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>2009-04-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4751</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16188</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>379</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Individual IRA</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James W. Baehren for Thomas L. Young</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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