<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-06</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921768</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANKATLANTIC BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BBX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001199949</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FUCHS JAY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1750 E. SUNRISE BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FT. LAUDERDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>EVP of Subsid BankAtlantic</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options to Buy Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.4103</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>7657</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2008-03-31</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-03-31</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7657</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>32657</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options to Buy Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>8.5585</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9188</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2007-03-04</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2012-03-04</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9188</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39188</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options to Buy Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.9664</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>9188</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2006-01-02</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-01-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>9188</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39188</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Options to Buy Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.8232</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-06</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>22970</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F6"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-05-02</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>22970</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>97970</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The exercise price of these previously granted and reported stock options was adjusted from $9.68 by the Issuer's Compensation Committee pursuant to anti-dilution provisions contained in the relevant Issuer stock option plan to reflect the Issuer's spin-off of its interest in Levitt Corporation to the Issuer's shareholders, which adjustment is exempt from Section 16(b).</footnote><footnote id="F2">Reflects an adjustment in the number of shares issuable under previously granted and reported stock options by the Issuer's Compensation Committee pursuant to anti-dilution provisions contained in the relevant Issuer stock option plan to reflect the Issuer's spin-off of its interest in Levitt Corporation to the Issuer's shareholders, which adjustment is exempt from Section 16(b).</footnote><footnote id="F3">The exercise price of these previously granted and reported stock options was adjusted from $11.18 by the Issuer's Compensation Committee pursuant to anti-dilution provisions contained in the relevant Issuer stock option plan to reflect the Issuer's spin-off of its interest in Levitt Corporation to the Issuer's shareholders, which adjustment is exempt from Section 16(b).</footnote><footnote id="F4">The exercise price of these previously granted and reported stock options was adjusted from $3.875 by the Issuer's Compensation Committee pursuant to anti-dilution provisions contained in the relevant Issuer stock option plan to reflect the Issuer's spin-off of its interest in Levitt Corporation to the Issuer's shareholders, which adjustment is exempt from Section 16(b).</footnote><footnote id="F5">The exercise price of these previously granted and reported stock options was adjusted from $3.688 by the Issuer's Compensation Committee pursuant to anti-dilution provisions contained in the relevant Issuer stock option plan to reflect the Issuer's spin-off of its interest in Levitt Corporation to the Issuer's shareholders, which adjustment is exempt from Section 16(b).</footnote><footnote id="F6">62,552 of these options vest on 05/02/2005 and 35,418 vest on  01/01/2006.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jay Fuchs</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

