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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-04-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000042542</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GOODRICH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001024390</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RANKIN ALFRED M JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NACCO INDUSTRIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5875 LANDERBROOK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MAYFIELD HTS.</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44124-4017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-04-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1273.9755</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>70.645</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1273.9755</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16638.7213</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1-for-1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock was accrued under the Goodrich Corporation Outside Director Phantom Share Plan. The phantom stock is to be settled in cash only upon the reporting person's retirement, at various times based upon elections made by the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 266.2113 shares of phantom stock acquired during the period of 7/1/09 to 4/1/10 pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Goodrich Corporation Directors' Phantom Share Plan and the Goodrich Corporation Outside Director Phantom Share Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Vincent M. Lichtenberger, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-04-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
