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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-04-02</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188511</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH DAN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LYONDELL CHEMICAL COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 3646</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77253-3646</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-04-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>381</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41355</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents unissued shares earned pursuant to the Directors' Retainer Fee Stock Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 70 unissued shares for dividend equivalents credited April 2, 2007 pursuant to the Amended and Restated Directors' Stock Plan and 112 unissued shares for dividend equivalents credited April 2, 2007 pursuant to the Directors' Retainer Fee Stock Plan. On March 15, 2007, the Class A common stock of Cooper Industries, Ltd. split 2-for-1, resulting in 20,396 additional shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-04-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
