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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-22</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000278352</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185766</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>METLITSKY BORIS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE SYMBOL PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOLTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11742</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP-Global Products Group</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.615</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-12-02</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-12-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.55</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-08-04</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-08-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.975</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.89</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.02</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-08</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.05</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-08-12</value>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-08-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>91000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.09</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-02-19</value>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-02-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>60000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.9667</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F9"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>39750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.9667</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-08-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-02-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>80250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.1852</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-02-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F11"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>15.7963</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-02-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F12"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-02-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>81000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.3704</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-01-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F13"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2008-01-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>41905</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.9136</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-02-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F14"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>22780</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.5186</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-02-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F15"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-02-09</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>28477</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.9548</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1997-04-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F16"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-04-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25335</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>26.5833</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-07-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F17"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-07-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust Metlitsky</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">No securities owned.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Ten percent (10%) of these options vest on 12/02/2006 and fifteen percent (15%) vest on each of the next six (6) consecutive six month anniversary dates of that date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Ten percent (10%) of these options vest on 08/04/2006 and fifteen percent (15%) vest on each of the next six (6) consecutive six month anniversary dates of that date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Effective as of August 26, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Issuer's Board of Directors accelerated the vesting of unvested stock options with exercise prices greater than $12.50 per share.  Accordingly, 100 percent (100%) of these options are vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Effective as of August 26, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Issuer's Board of Directors accelerated the vesting of unvested stock options with exercise prices greater than $12.50 per share.  Accordingly, 100 percent (100%) of these options are vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Effective as of August 26, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Issuer's Board of Directors accelerated the vesting of unvested stock options with exercise prices greater than $12.50 per share.  Accordingly, 100 percent (100%) of these options are vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Ten percent (10%) of these options vested on 08/12/2003 and fifteen percent (15%) vest on each of the next six (6) consecutive six month anniversary dates of that date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Ten percent (10%) of these options vested on 01/01/2003 and fifteen percent (15%) vested on each of the next six (6) consecutive six month anniversary dates of that date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">Effective as of August 26, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Issuer's Board of Directors accelerated the vesting of unvested stock options with exercise prices greater than $12.50 per share.  Accordingly, 100 percent (100%) of these options are vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">Effective as of August 26, 2005, the Compensation Committee of the Issuer's Board of Directors accelerated the vesting of unvested stock options with exercise prices greater than $12.50 per share.  Accordingly, 100 percent (100%) of these options are vested.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">Forty percent (40%) of these options vested on 01/01/2001 and thirty percent (30%) vested on each of 01/01/2002 and 01/01/2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">Forty percent (40%) of these options vested on 02/27/2001 and thirty percent (30%) vested on each of 01/01/2002 and 01/01/2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">The initial grant was 101,250 options.  One hundred percent (100%) of these options vested on 12/14/1998.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F14">The initial grant was 75,937 options.  Forty percent (40%) of these options vested on 01/01/1999 and thirty percent (30%) vested on each of 01/01/2000 and 01/01/2001.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F15">The initial grant was 94,920 options.  Forty percent (40%) of these options vested on 01/01/1999 and thirty percent (30%) vested on each of 01/01/2000 and 01/01/2001.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F16">The initial grant was 227,812 options.   Forty percent (40%) of these options vested on 04/15/1998 and thirty percent (30%) vested on each of 04/15/1999 and 04/15/2000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F17">Ten percent (10%) of these options vested on 07/31/2001 and fifteen percent (15%) vested on each of the next six (6) consecutive six month anniversary dates of that date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Boris Metlitsky</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
