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

    <documentType>3</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-25</periodOfReport>
    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000881905</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED RETAIL GROUP INC/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>URGI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260416</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUCAS SCOTT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>365 WEST PASSAIC STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCHELLE PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07662</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP-Sales, Western Region</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>439.468</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401(k) Plan</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>10763.2457</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.125</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-05-02</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2006-05-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>5.875</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-02-13</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-02-12</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.75</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2001-02-24</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2010-02-23</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>6.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2002-03-01</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2011-02-28</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.25</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-02-27</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-26</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>3000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Option to Buy</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.45</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2004-08-15</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-08-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>2000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Exercisable in five equal annual installments commencing on the date indicated subject to acceleration in accordance with the terms of the stock option plans.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Scott Lucas</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

