-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JYiX4+lekdRXZUsecE4+OJYGL6UKgCjPJhnWTkLNZtF5wODvR6qqeAbQ/LdzuB/Q
 Ed6wISJnFcvNM003vhS6qQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001001250-10-000329.txt : 20101123
<SEC-HEADER>0001001250-10-000329.hdr.sgml : 20101123
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101123163119
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001001250-10-000329
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101101
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101123
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101123

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Trower Alexandra C.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001432251

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14064
		FILM NUMBER:		101212047

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		767 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10153

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001001250
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PERFUMES, COSMETICS & OTHER TOILET PREPARATIONS [2844]
		IRS NUMBER:				112408943
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		767 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10153
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2125724200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		767 FIFTH AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10153
</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>2010-11-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001432251</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Trower Alexandra C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>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>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP - Global Communications</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>675</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3422</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 19, 2010, the Reporting Person made a gift of 675 shares of Class A Common Stock.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alexandra C. Trower, by Spencer G. Smul, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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