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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001060021</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BLACKROCK INC /NY</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BLK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210392</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WAGNER LAWRENCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BLACKROCK FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>40 EAST 52ND STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Class A Common Stock (par value $0.01 per share)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>102</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.17</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6602</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired pursuant to the BlackRock, Inc. Nonemployee Directors Stock Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Lawrence M. Wagner and his wife jointly own 1,646 shares of BlackRock, Inc., including the current issuance of 102 shares pursuant to the BlackRock, Inc Nonemployee Directors Stock Compensation Plan. Mr. Wagner additionally owns 4,956 shares of BlackRock, Inc. individually, as follows: through a Keogh account Mr. Wagner owns 1,271 shares of BlackRock, Inc., and through a 401(k) account Mr. Wagner owns 3,685 shares of BlackRock, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Salvatore Rappa</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

