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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000850209</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FOOT LOCKER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198863</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TURPIN CHERYL N</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FOOT LOCKER, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>112 WEST 34TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10120</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2104.3771</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.76</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32267.1933</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom stock units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>518.6722</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.10</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32785.8655</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26694</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Phantom stock units were accrued under the Foot Locker 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, and represent the stock portion of the reporting person's 2011 annual retainer fee, which was deferred under the Plan.  The phantom stock units are to be settled only in stock following the reporting person's termination of service as a director.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Value of consideration is equal to the closing price of a share of the Company's common stock on June 30, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Phantom stock units were accrued under the Foot Locker 2007 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended and restated, and represent the reporting person's quarterly cash retainer fee that was deferred under the Plan for 2011.  The phantom stock units are to be settled only in stock following the reporting person's termination of service as a director.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Price is equal to the closing price of a share of the Company's common stock on July 1, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sheilagh M. Clarke, Attorney-in-Fact for Cheryl Nido Turpin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
