-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WhZ80sdm0sWUWQpVes0YxNvhSiUB4lV3jgI17CXnxcYlak6+53NjBcOf1rbtcAL2
 JtTAcPuFT1/d1vnHj3PF0g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001296362-05-000057.txt : 20050420
<SEC-HEADER>0001296362-05-000057.hdr.sgml : 20050420
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050420090504
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001296362-05-000057
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050418
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050420
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050420

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COOPER INDUSTRIES LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001141982
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRIC LIGHTING & WIRING EQUIPMENT [3640]
		IRS NUMBER:				980355628
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 TRAVIS
		STREET 2:		SUITE 5800
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002-1001
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7132098400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		600 TRAVIS
		STREET 2:		SUITE 5800
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002-1001

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ISABELLA PAUL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001214749

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31330
		FILM NUMBER:		05760669

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 STANLEY DR
		CITY:			NEW BRITAIN
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06053
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8608273820
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-18</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001141982</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COOPER INDUSTRIES LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CBE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214749</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ISABELLA PAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>600 TRAVIS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 5800</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77002</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP Cooper Connection</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Paul Isabella</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----