-----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,
 PWo5m7egLC3bWL3W7s+ZLOKR44Zww92JN9XHG3+BhDRnZ5DY8kOoiAFZqv56E2fB
 fn1eIW8Yz7jitdEQ/y0oGg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000812074-10-000020.txt : 20100310
<SEC-HEADER>0000812074-10-000020.hdr.sgml : 20100310
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100310175438
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000812074-10-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100307
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100310
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100310

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CRAWFORD L RICHARD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001210683

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09576
		FILM NUMBER:		10671696

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PACKAGING SOLUTIONS
		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/A
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-07</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2010-03-10</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210683</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CRAWFORD L RICHARD</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Sr VP-Pres Golobal Glass Ops</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (March 7 2010)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13912</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-03-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock (Direct)</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>13912</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13912</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The report is being amended to correct the number of shares shown in columns 7 and 9 of Table II for the derivative security reported in the filing being amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option vests in four equal annual installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of the grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James W. Baehren for L. Richard Crawford</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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