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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-07-30</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001343846</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Altmeyer John W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1330 SAXTON WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MECHANICSBURG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>17055</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></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>2019-07-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>23</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26934</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 July 30, 2019.  The RSUs issued on July 30, 2019 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>By Maxine L. Mauricio, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2019-07-30
0000105634
EMCOR GROUP INC
EME
0001343846
Altmeyer John W
1330 SAXTON WAY
MECHANICSBURG
PA
17055
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2019-07-30
4
A
0
23
0
A
26934
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 July 30, 2019.  The RSUs issued on July 30, 2019 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.
By Maxine L. Mauricio, Attorney-in-Fact
2019-07-31