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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001455483</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Spivak Bernstein Susan</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Alterra Cap Services USA</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.74</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9848</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $20.74 to $20.76, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide to Alterra Capital Holdings Limited, any security holder of Alterra Capital Holdings Limited, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnote (1) to this Form</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bernard K. Asirifi, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
