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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-09-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001485003</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Eleven Biotherapeutics, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EBIO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001503559</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Flagship Ventures Fund IV, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001508052</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Flagship Ventures Fund 2007, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001590973</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Flagship Ventures Fund IV-Rx, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001508053</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Flagship Ventures 2007 General Partner LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001508051</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Flagship Ventures Fund IV General Partner LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001222012</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AFEYAN NOUBAR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001255927</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KANIA EDWIN M JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1 MEMORIAL DRIVE, 7TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02142</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>35209</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.18</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1092902</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8802</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.18</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>273213</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2145</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.16</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1090757</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>536</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.16</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>272677</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1833802</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Held by Flagship Ventures Fund IV, L.P. (&quot;Flagship IV&quot;).  Flagship Ventures Fund IV General Partner LLC (&quot;Flagship IV LLC&quot;) is the general partner of Flagship IV. Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D. and Edwin M. Kania, Jr. are the managers of Flagship IV LLC.  Flagship IV LLC and each of these individuals may be deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to all shares held by Flagship IV.  Each of the filing persons, other than Flagship IV, disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Held by Flagship Ventures Fund IV-Rx, L.P. (&quot;Flagship IV-Rx&quot;).  Flagship IV LLC is the general partner of Flagship IV Rx.  Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D. and Edwin M. Kania, Jr. are the managers of Flagship IV LLC.  Flagship IV LLC and each of these individuals may be deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to all shares held by Flagship IV-Rx.  Each of the filing persons, other than Flagship IV-Rx, disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Held by Flagship Ventures Fund 2007, L.P. (&quot;Flagship 2007&quot;).  Flagship Ventures 2007 General Partner LLC (&quot;Flagship 2007 LLC&quot;) is the general partner of Flagship 2007.  Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D. and Edwin M. Kania, Jr. are the managers of Flagship 2007 LLC.  Flagship 2007 LLC and each of these individuals may be deemed to share voting and investment power with respect to all shares held by Flagship 2007.  Each of the filing persons, other than Flagship 2007, disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The transactions were executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $4.15 to $4.24. The price above reflects the weighted average sales price. Detailed information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price will be provided upon request by the Commission staff, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The transactions were executed in multiple trades at prices ranging from $4.15 to $4.18. The price above reflects the weighted average sales price. Detailed information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price will be provided upon request by the Commission staff, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FLAGSHIP VENTURES FUND IV, L.P., By: Flagship Ventures Fund IV General Partner LLC, By: /s/ Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D., Title: Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FLAGSHIP VENTURES FUND 2007, L.P., By: Flagship Ventures 2007 General Partner LLC, By: /s/ Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D., Title: Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FLAGSHIP VENTURES FUND IV-RX, L.P., By: Flagship Ventures Fund IV General Partner LLC, By: /s/ Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D., Title: Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FLAGSHIP VENTURES 2007 GENERAL PARTNER LLC, By: /s/ Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D., Title: Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FLAGSHIP VENTURES FUND IV GENERAL PARTNER LLC, By: /s/ Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D., Title: Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Noubar B. Afeyan, Ph.D.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Edwin M. Kania, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
