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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000097216</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEREX CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TEX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001488168</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hegarty Kieran</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TEREX CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 NYALA FARM ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06880</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, Materials Processin</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8086</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>142908</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.01</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1290</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>141618</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Performance shares awarded pursuant to the terms of performance based awards granted in 2014, 2015 and 2016 resulting from the Company's exceeding performance targets set out in such grants for the period ended December 31, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reflects shares of restricted stock forfeited by Mr. Hegarty pursuant to the terms of a performance based award granted in 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Ownership includes shares received as a dividend.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Scott J. Posner, power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2017-02-23
0000097216
TEREX CORP
TEX
0001488168
Hegarty Kieran
C/O TEREX CORPORATION
200 NYALA FARM ROAD
WESTPORT
CT
06880
0
1
0
0
President, Materials Processin
Common Stock, par value $.01
2017-02-23
4
A
0
8086
0
A
142908
D
Common Stock, par value $.01
2017-02-23
4
D
0
1290
0
D
141618
D
Performance shares awarded pursuant to the terms of performance based awards granted in 2014, 2015 and 2016 resulting from the Company's exceeding performance targets set out in such grants for the period ended December 31, 2016.
Reflects shares of restricted stock forfeited by Mr. Hegarty pursuant to the terms of a performance based award granted in 2014.
Ownership includes shares received as a dividend.
/s/Scott J. Posner, power of attorney
2017-02-27