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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-09-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001005284</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORP \PA\</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>OLED</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001479956</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hack Michael G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O UNIVERSAL DISPLAY CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>375 PHILLIPS BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EWING</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08618</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>GM OLED Lighting &amp; Displays,VP</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-09-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3231</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.65</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36890</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares were sold pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1Non-Discretionary Trading Plan previously enter into by Dr. Hack.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents the weighted average of a range of sale prices per share from $33.45 to $34.08. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Company or any shareholder of the Company, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes an adjustment of 10 shares withheld to satisfy a prior tax liability of Dr. Hack.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael G. Hack</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-09-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
