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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000740260</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VENTAS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VTR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001346588</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Brehl Robert J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10350 ORMSBY PARK PLACE, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOUISVILLE,</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>40223</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Acct. Off. &amp; Controller</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>196</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>68.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24356.101</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld to pay the taxes on the vesting of restricted stock granted on February 25, 2011 under the Ventas, Inc. 2006 Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 22.977 shares acquired between January 23, 2013 and February 26, 2013 under the Ventas Employee and Director Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">As of February 25, 2013, Reporting Person also owns options to purchase 10,285 shares of Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert J. Brehl, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2013-02-25
0000740260
VENTAS INC
VTR
0001346588
Brehl Robert J
10350 ORMSBY PARK PLACE, SUITE 300
LOUISVILLE,
KY
40223
0
1
0
0
Chief Acct. Off. & Controller
Common Stock
2013-02-25
4
F
0
196
68.85
D
24356.101
D
Represents shares withheld to pay the taxes on the vesting of restricted stock granted on February 25, 2011 under the Ventas, Inc. 2006 Incentive Plan.
Includes 22.977 shares acquired between January 23, 2013 and February 26, 2013 under the Ventas Employee and Director Stock Purchase Plan.
As of February 25, 2013, Reporting Person also owns options to purchase 10,285 shares of Issuer's common stock.
Robert J. Brehl, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact
2013-02-27