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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-06-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001138118</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CB RICHARD ELLIS GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001145933</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BLUM RICHARD C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>909 MONTGOMERY STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 400</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94133</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2044</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13371</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-06-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2272</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2272</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2272</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities were granted to Richard C. Blum who is a director of the Issuer.  Mr. Blum is the President and Chairman of Blum Capital Partners, L.P. (&quot;BCP&quot;), the general partner of BK Capital Partners IV, L.P., Stinson Capital Partners, L.P., Stinson Capital Partners (QP), L.P., Stinson Capital Partners A, L.P., Stinson Capital Partners D, L.P., Stinson Capital Partners L, L.P. and Stinson Dominion, L.P., and a member of Saddlepoint Partners GP, L.L.C. which, in turn, serves as general partner to Saddlepoint Partners (Cayman), L.P.  BCP also serves as investment adviser, with sole voting investment discretion, to The Nuclear Decommissioning Trust of Dominion Nuclear Connecticut, Inc. and Virginia Electric and Power Company Qualified Nuclear Decommissioning Trust.  (Cont'd in Footnote 2)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">(Cont'd from Footnote 1) Mr. Blum is a managing member of Blum Strategic GP, L.L.C., the general partner Blum Strategic Partners, L.P. and also a managing member of Blum Strategic GP II, L.L.C., the general partner of Blum Strategic Partners II, L.P. and the managing limited partner of Blum Strategic Partners II GmbH &amp; Co. KG.  He is also a managing member of Blum Strategic GP III, L.L.C. which serves as general partner of Blum Strategic GP III, L.P. which, in turn, serves as the general partner of Blum Strategic Partners III, L.P. and he is also a managing member of Blum Strategic GP IV, L.L.C. which serves as general partner of Blum Strategic GP IV, L.P. which, in turn, serves as the general partner of Blum Strategic Partners IV, L.P.  (Cont'd in Footnote 3)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">(Cont'd from Footnote 2)  Under each of these partnership and managed account agreements, Mr. Blum is deemed to hold each partnership's and managed account's pro rata share of the securities for the benefit of each partnership and managed account, and each partnership and managed account is entitled to a pro rata portion of the securities issued.  Accordingly, each partnership and managed account may be deemed to be the indirect beneficial owners of the securities to the extent of their pro rata interest therein, and each of BCP, Blum Strategic GP, L.L.C., Blum Strategic GP II, L.L.C., Blum Strategic GP III, L.L.C., Blum Strategic GP IV, L.L.C. and Mr. Blum may be deemed to be indirect beneficial owners of the securities.  Blum Strategic GP, L.L.C., Blum Strategic GP II, L.L.C., Blum Strategic GP III, L.L.C., Blum Strategic GP IV, L.L.C. and Mr. Blum disclaim beneficial ownership of the securities, except to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option vests and becomes exercisable at a rate of one-twelfth (1/12th) of the options per quarter over a period of three (3) years commencing on June 2, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gregory D. Hitchan, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-06-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

