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    <periodOfReport>2007-12-31</periodOfReport>

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    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000766704</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEALTH CARE REIT INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HCN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

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            <rptOwnerCik>0001242815</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHAPMAN GEORGE L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE SEAGATE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TOLEDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>43604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
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            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
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            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>63.7983</value>
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                    <value>42.3713</value>
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                    <value>4080.1855</value>
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                    <value>I</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Dividend Reinvestment under the Amended and Restated Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">George L. Chapman III SSB IRA Rollover Custodian.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">George L. Chapman disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that he was or is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Account for son of George L. Chapman.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:  Erin C. Ibele
Attorney-in-Fact
For:  George L. Chapman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
