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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-07-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>true</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001348259</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VALIDUS HOLDINGS LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001336620</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hirtler-Garvey Karin</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VALIDUS HOLDINGS, LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>29 RICHMOND ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PEMBROKE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>D0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM08</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BERMUDA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>false</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-07-18</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2994.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>68.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On July 18, 2018, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 21, 2018 (the Merger Agreement), by and among American International Group, Inc. (Parent), Venus Holdings Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (Merger Sub), and Validus Holdings, Ltd. (the Company), Merger Sub merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity, which became a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (the Merger).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the effective time of the Merger, each issued and outstanding common share, par value $0.175, of the Company was canceled and converted into the right to receive $68.00 in cash.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Karin Hirtler-Garvey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
