<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-01-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000105634</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMCOR GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EME</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001451762</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Laidley David H.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 PLACE VILLE MARIE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 3000</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTREAL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A8</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>H3B 4T9</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>QUEBEC, CANADA</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>2015-01-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>41</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37556</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) issued in respect of already outstanding RSUs as a consequence of a dividend paid on the Company's common stock on January 30, 2015.  The RSUs issued on January 30, 2015 are subject to the same vesting and forfeiture provisions as the RSUs in respect of which they have been issued.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes shares issuable in respect of RSUs.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sheldon I. Cammaker, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-02-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2015-01-30
0000105634
EMCOR GROUP INC
EME
0001451762
Laidley David H.
1 PLACE VILLE MARIE
SUITE 3000
MONTREAL
A8
H3B 4T9
QUEBEC, CANADA
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2015-01-30
4
A
0
41
0
A
37556
D
Represents restricted stock units ("RSUs") issued in respect of already outstanding RSUs as a consequence of a dividend paid on the Company's common stock on January 30, 2015.  The RSUs issued on January 30, 2015 are subject to the same vesting and forfeiture provisions as the RSUs in respect of which they have been issued.
Includes shares issuable in respect of RSUs.
Sheldon I. Cammaker, Attorney-in-Fact
2015-02-02