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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001325879</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AVEO PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AVEO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239241</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EVNIN ANTHONY B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VENROCK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>530 FIFTH AVENUE 22ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10036</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4556</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.55</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20650</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1147068</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Funds</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The transaction reported in this Form 4 was effected pursuant to the reporting person's election on November 12, 2013, in accordance with a policy established by the board effective in 2014, to receive 50% of his quarterly installment of board fees in the form of unrestricted shares of AVEO common stock, issued under AVEO's 2010 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Consists of (a) 206,452 shares held by Venrock Associates, or VA, (b) 917,569 shares held by Venrock Associates III, L.P., or VA III, (c) 22,938 shares held by Venrock Entrepreneurs Fund III, L.P., or VEF III, and (d) 109 shares held by VEF Management III, LLC. Dr. Evnin is a General Partner of VA. Venrock Management III, LLC, or VM III, is the sole General Partner of VA III. VEF Management III, LLC, or VEFM III, is the sole General Partner of VEF III. Dr. Evnin is a Member of VM III and VEFM III.  Dr. Evnin expressly disclaims beneficial ownership over all shares held by or on behalf of VA, VA III, VEF III, VM III, and VEFM III, except to the extent of his indirect pecuniary interest therein. VM III and VEFM III expressly disclaim beneficial ownership over all shares held by VA III and VEF III, except to the extent of their indirect pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Anthony B. Evnin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-04-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
