<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

<documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-07</periodOfReport>
<issuer><issuerCik>0001144331</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EXPRESSJET HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
<issuerTradingSymbol>XJT</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001198447</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOMBWELL JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
<reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, General Counsel &amp;amp; Sec</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>11.49</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>30000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-07</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>30000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>30000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Option is scheduled to vest in 25% increments on each of May 7, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.</footnote><footnote id="F2">0 was inserted to satisfy an EDGAR technical requirement.  The options were granted at no cost and therefore do not have a purchase price.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>John F. Wombwell</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-08</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

