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

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-04-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001001250</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001452849</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2008 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>767 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001008090</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAUDER AERIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>767 FIFTH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10153</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001142219</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZINTERHOFER AERIN LAUDER TRUST U/A/D 4/24/00</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RICHARD D. PARSONS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9 WEST 57TH STREET, SUITE 4700</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10019</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1692</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>85400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>85400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9924192</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>85400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>85400</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1572324</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2000 Revocable Trust u/a/d 4/24/00</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1500000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1500000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class B Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4810594</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4810594</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F9"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust Under Article 2 of The Zinterhofer 2008 Descendants Trust Agreement dated December 24, 2008</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On January 20, 2012, the Class A Common Stock of the Issuer split 2-for-1, resulting in Aerin Lauder's ownership of 846 additional shares of Class A Common Stock.  Aerin Lauder beneficially owns 1,692 shares of Class A Common Stock directly, with respect to which she has sole voting and investment power.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">There is no conversion price for the Class B Common Stock.  It is convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock on a one-to-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On April 9, 2012, the Reporting Person distributed 85,400 shares of Class B Common Stock to the Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer Trust U/A/D 4/24/00 (the &quot;2000 Trust&quot;) in partial satisfaction of an amount payable due under the terms of the Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2008 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust Agreement (the &quot;2008 Grat&quot;).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Shares of Class B Common Stock may be converted immediately into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis by the holder and are automatically converted into Class A Common Stock on a one-for-one basis upon transfer to a person or entity that is not a &quot;Permitted Transferee&quot; or soon after a record date for a meeting of stockholders where the outstanding Class B Common Stock constitutes less than 10% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Not applicable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">On January 20, 2012, the Class A Common Stock of the Issuer split 2-for-1, resulting in the 2008 GRAT's ownership of 5,004,796 additional shares of Class B Common Stock.  After the transaction described in note 3, the 2008 GRAT beneficially owns 9,924,192 shares of Class B Common Stock directly, and Aerin Lauder owns such shares indirectly as Trustee and ultimate beneficial owner of the 2008 GRAT and with respect to which she has sole voting and investment power.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">On January 20, 2012, the Class A Common Stock of the Issuer split 2-for-1, resulting in the 2000 Trust's ownership of 743,462 additional shares of Class B Common Stock.  After the transaction described in note 3, the 2000 Trust beneficially owns 1,572,324 shares of Class B Common Stock directly, and Aerin Lauder owns such shares indirectly as Grantor and beneficial owner of the 2000 Trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">On January 20, 2012, the Class A Common Stock of the Issuer split 2-for-1, resulting in Aerin Lauder's ownership of 750,000 additional shares of Class B Common Stock.  Aerin Lauder beneficially owns 1,500,000 shares of Class B Common Stock directly, with respect to which she has sole voting and investment power.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">On January 20, 2012, the Class A Common Stock of the Issuer split 2-for-1, resulting in the ownership of 2,405,297 additional shares of Class B Common Stock by the Trust Under Article 2 of The Zinterhofer 2008 Descendants Trust Agreement dated December 24, 2008 (&quot;Article 2 Trust&quot;).  After the transaction described in note 3, the Article 2 Trust beneficially owns 4,810,594 shares of Class B Common Stock directly, and Aerin Lauder owns such shares indirectly as a co-trustee of Article 2 Trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>*The full name of the Reporting Trust is:  Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2008 Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, u/a/d December 24, 2008, by Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, as Grantor (&quot;2008 GRAT&quot;).</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer, Trustee, by Spencer G. Smul, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Aerin Lauder, by Spencer G. Smul, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard D. Parsons, Trustee, Aerin Lauder Zinterhofer 2000 Revocable Trust, by Spencer G. Smul, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
