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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-09-28</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000068505</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MOTOROLA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MOT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001190261</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WHITE JOHN A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>425 ADMINISTRATION BUILDING</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAYETTEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>72701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Motorola, Inc. Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1552</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.53</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66287.0764</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Deferred Stock Units issued for payment of Board compensation, an exempt transaction pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes Deferred Stock Units received pursuant to dividend equivalent rights which were credited to the reporting person when and as dividends were paid on Motorola common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes shares acquired through the reinvestment of dividends under the Mellon Investor Services Program.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jeffrey A. Brown on behalf of Dr. John A. White, Director, Motorola, Inc. (Power of Attorney on File)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-10-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
