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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-07-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001271193</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERIOR ESSEX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPSX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001280748</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GREENWATER HOLDINGS LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>201 MERRITT 7</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORWALK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06856</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001280749</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HELLER INTERNATIONAL GROUP INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 WEST MONROE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60661</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See notes (2) and (3)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000046738</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HELLER FINANCIAL INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 WEST MONROE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60661</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See notes (2)  and (3)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000040554</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>260 LONG RIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06927</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See notes (2) and (3)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000797463</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES INC/CT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>260 LONG RIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STAMFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06927</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See notes (2) and (3)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000040545</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GENERAL ELECTRIC CO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>3135 EASTON TURNPIKE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAIRFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06828</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>See notes (2) and (3)</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-07-15</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1250000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1241318</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The parties reached agreement as to material terms on July 15, 2005.  The transaction was executed on Nasdaq on July 19, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares are owned directly by Greenwater Holding, Ltd. (&quot;Greenwater&quot;).  Heller International Group, Inc. (&quot;HIG&quot;) is the sole shareholder of Greenwater.  Heller Financial, Inc. (&quot;Heller Financial&quot;) is the sole shareholder of HIG.  General Electric Capitol Corporation (&quot;GECC&quot;) is the sole shareholder of Heller Financial.  General Electric Capital Services, Inc. (&quot;GECS&quot;) is the sole shareholder of GECC.  General Electric Company (&quot;GE&quot;) is the sole shareholder of GECS.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Pursuant to Rule 16a-1(4) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, each of GE, GECS, GECC, Heller Financial and HIG disclaims beneficial ownership of the Common Stock directly owned by Greenwater.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara A. Lane, Director Greenwater Holdings, Ltd.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clifford M. Warren, Director and President, Heller International Group, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Clifford M. Warren, Director, Heller Financial, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael A. Gaudino, Vice President, General Electric Capital Corporation</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara A. Lane, Attorney-In-Fact, General Electric Capital Services, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Barbara A. Lane, Attorney-In-Fact, General Electric Company</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
