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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000828750</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GSI COMMERCE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GSIC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001095050</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ADELBERG KENNETH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>GSI COMMERCE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1075 FIRST AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KING OF PRUSSIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19406</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>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.01</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The filing of this Statement shall not be construed as an admission (a) that the person filing this Statement is, for the purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the beneficial owner of any equity securities covered by this Statement, or (b) that this Statement is legally required to be filed by such person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth J. Adelberg</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

