-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Fxii5ifs17mPiNz/VKYOF+KG5uul6lg//FvKyniuPf6994CvyMwqbZXT2rqsgp+9
 vlSSCDq6DoBiXVjDOXu7Xw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000884905-08-000038.txt : 20080403
<SEC-HEADER>0000884905-08-000038.hdr.sgml : 20080403
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080403111129
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000884905-08-000038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080401
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080403
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080403

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:			GALANTE EDWARD G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001199009

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11037
		FILM NUMBER:		08736190

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		972-444-1000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O EXXON MOBIL CORP
		STREET 2:		5959 LAS COLINAS BLVD
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039-2298
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199009</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALANTE EDWARD G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PRAXAIR, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>39 OLD RIDGEBURY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DANBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06810-5113</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>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>158.045</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>158.045</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>775.36</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Conversion to Praxair Common Stock is on a 1-for-1 basis.</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">This total includes shares previously acquired through automatic dividend reinvestment under the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anthony M. Pepper, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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