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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000884905-04-000095.txt : 20040402
<SEC-HEADER>0000884905-04-000095.hdr.sgml : 20040402
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040402083447
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000884905-04-000095
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040402

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEBOEUF RAYMOND W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001119504
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAINTS, VARNISHES, LACQUERS, ENAMELS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [2851]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11037
		FILM NUMBER:		04711276

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PPG PL 40 EAST
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15272
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4124343131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE PPG PL
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15272
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000884905</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PRAXAIR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001119504</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEBOEUF RAYMOND W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PPG INDUSTRIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE PPG PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15272</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.26</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-04-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>369.028</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>37.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>369.028</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27067.388</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant to reporting person of options to buy shares of Common Stock of the issuer under the Praxair, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">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="F3">Conversion to Praxair Common Stock is on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">See Note (2) above.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark S. Lyon, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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