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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001011570</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KNOLL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KNL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210475</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAPIDUS SIDNEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>466 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1452</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>134813</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This stock was acquired pursuant to the Knoll, Inc. Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan in a transaction exempt from Section 16 under Rule 16b-3(d).  Under this Plan, directors may elect in advance to receive shares of common stock in lieu of all or a portion of their cash retainer and meeting fees at a price per share equal to the closing price of the common stock on the last business day of the quarter (referred to as the &quot;transaction date&quot;).  The price as shown above reflects the closing price of the common stock on the transaction date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Michael A. Pollner, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
