<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001171500</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLATINUM UNDERWRITERS HOLDINGS LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTP</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241484</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CURRIE NEIL A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>None</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Share units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-01</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>189</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>27.14</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Shares</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>189</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>189</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">No Non-Derivative Securities to report.</footnote><footnote id="F2">1-for-1.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The share units were credited under the Share Unit Plan for Nonemployee Directors (the &amp;quot;Plan&amp;quot;) of Platinum Underwriters Holdings, Ltd. (the &amp;quot;Company&amp;quot;) and will be paid in cash, Common Shares of the Company or a combination thereof at the discretion of the Board of Directors of the Company based on the Fair Market Value (as defined in the Plan) of the Common Shares on the first business day following the earlier of (i) the date that is five years following the end of the calendar year that includes the calendar quarter in respect of which the share units are awarded (which is the quarter preceding the transaction date), and (ii) the date the reporting person ceases to be a member of the Board of Directors of the Company.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Michael E. Lombardozzi, by power of attorney</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-01</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

