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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-10-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001025134</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTRAWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ITRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001052831</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHUSTER BRADLEY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTRAWARE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>25 ORINDA WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ORINDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94563</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Director Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-10-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-04-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-10-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>750</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Under the Intraware, Inc. 1998 Director Option Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;), this stock option grant was automatically made on the date of the company's 2006 annual meeting of stockholders.  The terms of the option, including the grant date, exercise price, and vesting terms, are set by the Plan and are nondiscretionary.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The option vests as to 1/4 of the shares six months after the grant date, and as to 1/24 of the shares each month thereafter.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">None.  The option was granted as an incentive.  The exercise price of the option is set forth in Column 2.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paul D. Warenski, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, signing pursuant to power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
