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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-05-17</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2011-03-15</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001065865</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JANUS CAPITAL GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JNS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323907</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Armour Timothy K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>JANUS CAPITAL GROUP INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>151 DETROIT STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80206</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19580</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-03-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12984</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>78481</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units are payable in common stock upon the reporting person's termination of service as a director.  Each restricted stock unit represents one share of common stock upon distribution.  This amended Form 4 reflects the correct allocation of restricted stock units and common stock held by the reporting person following the conversion of restricted stock units to common stock on March 15, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The sales reported in this Form 4 was effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 plan adopted by the reporting person to cover tax liabilities arising from vesting events.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares were sold in the following manner:  500 at $11.84 per share; 1,000 at $11.85 per share; 100 at $11.86 per share; 100 at $11.87 per share; 300 at $11.88 per share; 100 at $11.89 per share; 100 at $11.90 per share; 484 at $11.91 per share; 500 at $11.92 per share; 1,500 at $11.93 per share; 800 at $11.94 per share; 1,400 at $11.95 per share; 1,600 at $11.96 per share; 2,600 @ $11.97 per share; 900 at $11.98 per share and 1,000 at $11.99 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Number reflects 194 shares received in connection with an automatic dividend reinvestment feature on a brokerage account and 39,155 immediately vested shares previously reported as restricted stock units on July 24, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathlene D. Duncan, Attorney-In-Fact for Timothy K. Armour</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-05-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
