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

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-05-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001141719</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS Ltd</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALTE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001072504</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARTZBAND MERYL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ALTERRA CAPITAL HOLDINGS LIMITED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ALTERRA HOUSE, 2 FRONT STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON, BERMUDA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM 11</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-05-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8465675</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Restricted Stock Award was granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2006 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consists of 201,131 shares held of record or beneficially by Trident III Professionals Fund, L.P. and 8,264,544 shares held of record or beneficially by Trident III, L.P. Ms. Hartzband is a member and senior principal of Stone Point Capital LLC, a shareholder and a director of Stone Point GP Ltd., which is the general partner of Trident III Professionals Fund, L.P., and a member of the investment committee and owner of one of the five general partners of Trident Capital III, L.P., which is the general partner of Trident III, L.P. Ms. Hartzband disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held of record or beneficially by Trident III Professionals Fund, L.P. and Trident III, L.P., except as to the extent of any pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>H. Matthew Crusey, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-05-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
