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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GutF4UrjqIHDYZA0WajmIb9Auzf4h0l+gdlG814i7t77navKbPLwSQj1UAWikX33
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000884905-03-000250.txt : 20031209
<SEC-HEADER>0000884905-03-000250.hdr.sgml : 20031209
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031209172326
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000884905-03-000250
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031209
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031209

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KUEHN RONALD L JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001040098

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11037
		FILM NUMBER:		031045461

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 GREENWAY PLAZA
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 2765 77252-2765
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77046

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4 GREENWAY PLAZA
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 2765 77252-2765
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77046

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PRAXAIR INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884905
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INDUSTRIAL INORGANIC CHEMICALS [2810]
		IRS NUMBER:				061249050
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		39 OLD RIDGEBURY RD
		CITY:			DANBURY
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06810-5113
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038372000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		39 OLD RIDGEBURY ROAD
		CITY:			DANBURY
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06810-5113

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	UNION CARBIDE INDUSTRIAL GASES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19600201
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-09</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884905</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PRAXAIR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001040098</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KUEHN RONALD L JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EL PASO CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1900 FIFTH AVENUE NORTH, 20TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BIRMINGHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>35203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Deferred Stock</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-12-09</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>45.009</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>66.654</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><
underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>45.009</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>16931.794</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Deferred stock units acquired by reporting person under the Praxair, Inc. Director's Fees Deferral Plan and are to be settled in Praxair Common Stock upon the reporting person's retirement or termination of service.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Conversion to Praxair Common Stock is on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote><footnote id="F3">See Note (1) above.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mark S. Lyon, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-09</s
ignatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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