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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001103345</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BEACON POWER CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BCON</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001278525</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CAPP F WILLIAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BEACON POWER CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>65 MIDDLESEX ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TYNGSBORO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01879</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>118124</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The securities described represent the maximum amount of shares of common stock that can be awarded upon conversion of restricted stock units (&quot;RSU's&quot;) granted as of the date of this report.  The RSU's will only vest and be converted into common stock to the extent certain performance goals are met, including a specific adjusted EBITDA target, as of the last day of the Issuer's 2013 fiscal year.  In the event the specific goals are not met, the RSU's will vest on a pro rata basis, if at all.  The number of shares that would be awarded upon vesting if the target is achieved is 25,000.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Albert L. Sokol as attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-06-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
