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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-24</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000922408</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIVE STAR PRODUCTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FSPX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001279715</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NATIONAL PATENT DEVELOPMENT CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>777 WESTCHESTER AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FOURTH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WHITE PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10604</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9133417</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 24, 2004, GP Strategies Corporation (GPX) spun off its wholly owned subsidiary, National Patent Development Corporation, which owns 9,133,417 shares of Common Stock of Five Star Products, Inc. (FSPX).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lydia M. DeSantis, Corporate Secretary</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
