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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-05-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814453</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NWL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001237657</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STROBEL STEVEN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3 GLENLAKE PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATLANTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30328</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-05-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3287</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3287</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3287</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of Newell Rubbermaid Inc. common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting person shall become fully vested in his or her award upon the earlier of: (i) the first anniversary of the date of the grant of the award; or (ii) the date immediately preceding the date of the Company's 2016 annual meeting of shareholders, provided he or she remains in continuous service on the Board until such date, but the award may vest earlier in the event of death, disability or retirement. Prior to the vesting of the award, if the Company pays a dividend on its common stock, the reporting person will receive an amount in cash equal in value to the dividends that the reporting person would have received had the reporting person been the actual owner of the number of shares of Newell Rubbermaid common stock represented by the restricted stock units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">N/A</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael R. Peterson, Attorney-in-Fact for Steven J. Strobel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-05-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
