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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-22</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2005-04-22</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000927003</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ADVANCED ENERGY INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AEIS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228910</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHATZ DOUGLAS S &amp; SCHATZ JILL E FAMILY TRUST</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 481</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT COLLINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80522</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001007705</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHATZ DOUGLAS S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 481</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT COLLINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80522</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001328181</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Schatz Jill E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 481</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT COLLINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80522</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10657782</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are owned directly by the Douglas S. Schatz &amp; Jill E. Schatz Family Trust, a ten percent owner of the issuer, and indirectly by Douglas S. Schatz (as attorney-in-fact of Jill E Schatz) and Jill E. Schatz, co-trustees of the trust.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Form 4 filed on April 22, 2005 reported sales of an aggregate of 30,000 shares of common stock, which sales were not effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents shares of restricted stock units held directly by Douglas S. Schatz.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas S. Schatz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas S. Schatz - Co-Trustee of the Douglas S. Schatz and Jill E. Schatz Family Trust</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Douglas S. Schatz - Attorney-in-Fact for Jill E. Schatz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
