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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-10-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001037646</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>METTLER TOLEDO INTERNATIONAL INC/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MTD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001547708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Heidingsfelder Michael</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>IM LANGACHER 44</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>CH-8606 GREIFENSEE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SWITZERLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Head of Industrial</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>169.37</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-10-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7705</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-10-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-10-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7705</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7705</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options vest annually in five equal installments beginning on the first anniversary of the date of grant.  In addition, all the options vest fully upon certain events, including the merger, consolidation or change in control of the company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James Bellerjeau, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-11-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
