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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-10-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000104207</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WALGREEN CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WAG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215826</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCLEVISH TIMOTHY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>108 WILMOT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DEERFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60015</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Walgreen Co. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-10-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1085</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1085</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On October 7, 2014, the Compensation Committee determined that the performance criteria applicable to this restricted stock unit award granted on September 11, 2014 (not a derivative security within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(c) upon grant) under the Walgreen Co. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (together with the related award agreement, the &quot;Plan&quot;) had been satisfied. The shares underlying these restricted stock units will vest on September 11, 2017, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kelsey Chin, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-10-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
[{"type": "4", "sequence": "1", "filename": "edgar.xml", "description": "PRIMARY DOCUMENT", "secsgml_size_bytes": 3593}]
X0306
4
2014-10-07
0000104207
WALGREEN CO
WAG
0001215826
MCLEVISH TIMOTHY R
108 WILMOT ROAD
DEERFIELD
IL
60015
0
1
0
0
EVP and CFO
Walgreen Co. Common Stock
2014-10-07
4
A
0
1085
0
A
1085
D
On October 7, 2014, the Compensation Committee determined that the performance criteria applicable to this restricted stock unit award granted on September 11, 2014 (not a derivative security within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(c) upon grant) under the Walgreen Co. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan (together with the related award agreement, the "Plan") had been satisfied. The shares underlying these restricted stock units will vest on September 11, 2017, subject to the terms and conditions of the Plan.
/s/ Kelsey Chin, attorney-in-fact
2014-10-08