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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-01-24</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001377143</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Atkinson Graham W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WALGREEN CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>108 WILMOT ROAD</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>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Walgreen Co. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-01-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24304</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.49</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>80692</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Walgreen Co. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-01-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24304</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>58.05</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>56388</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Walgreen Co. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-01-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8168</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>57.23</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48220</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-01-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24304</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-01-24</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-01-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>24304</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person in October 2013.  As previously disclosed, Mr. Atkinson is retiring at the end of January 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Disposition relating to the satisfaction of tax withholding obligations upon the settlement of restricted stock unit awards granted in accordance with Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The price reported is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $57.67 to $58.52, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the SEC staff, the issuer, or any securityholder of the issuer, upon request, information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the range indicated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes shares underlying restricted stock units issued in lieu of dividends (through December 12, 2013) on outstanding restricted stock units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mark L. Dosier, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-01-24
0000104207
WALGREEN CO
WAG
0001377143
Atkinson Graham W
WALGREEN CO.
108 WILMOT ROAD
DEERFIELD
IL
60015
0
1
0
0
Senior Vice President
Walgreen Co. Common Stock
2014-01-24
4
M
0
24304
41.49
A
80692
D
Walgreen Co. Common Stock
2014-01-24
4
S
0
24304
58.05
D
56388
D
Walgreen Co. Common Stock
2014-01-24
4
F
0
8168
57.23
D
48220
D
Employee Stock Option (right to buy)
41.49
2014-01-24
4
M
0
24304
0
D
2014-01-24
2021-01-24
Common Stock
24304
0
D
This transaction was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person in October 2013.  As previously disclosed, Mr. Atkinson is retiring at the end of January 2014.
Disposition relating to the satisfaction of tax withholding obligations upon the settlement of restricted stock unit awards granted in accordance with Rule 16b-3.
The price reported is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $57.67 to $58.52, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the SEC staff, the issuer, or any securityholder of the issuer, upon request, information regarding the number of shares sold at each price within the range indicated.
Includes shares underlying restricted stock units issued in lieu of dividends (through December 12, 2013) on outstanding restricted stock units.
/s/ Mark L. Dosier, Attorney-in-Fact
2014-01-27