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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000740260-10-000242.txt : 20101202
<SEC-HEADER>0000740260-10-000242.hdr.sgml : 20101202
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101202180728
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000740260-10-000242
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101130
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101202
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101202

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VENTAS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000740260
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				611055020
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4800
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(877) 483-6827

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4800
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LEWIS RAYMOND J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001215187

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10989
		FILM NUMBER:		101229336

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		111 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 4800
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-30</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215187</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LEWIS RAYMOND J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 SOUTH WACKER DRIVE, SUITE 4800</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6032</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>51.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>126877</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </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 November 30, 2007, under the Ventas, Inc. 2006 Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As of November 30, 2010, Reporting Person also owns options to purchase 83,805 shares of Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Raymond J. Lewis, By: T. Richard Riney, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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