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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-03-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001196298</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEPHROS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NEPH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001698052</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Astor Andrew</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O NEPHROS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>380 LACKAWANNA PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTH ORANGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07079</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>.475</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>340459</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Warrants (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.30</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2017-03-17</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-03-17</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>166666</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>166666</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.4599</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-02-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>289785</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>289785</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.293</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-05-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>209355</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>209355</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.4999</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2027-12-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 120,417 shares of restricted stock (the &quot;Restricted Stock&quot;) granted to the Reporting Person on December 20, 2017 in lieu of a cash bonus. The Restricted Stock was granted under the Company's 2015 Equity Incentive Plan. The Restricted Stock vests six months following the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On 2/13/17, the Reporting Person was granted an option to purchase up to 579,571 shares of common stock of the Company. 12.5% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 72,446 shares) vested on 2/13/18; 37.5% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 217,339 shares) vest quarterly in 12 equal amounts, commencing on 5/13/18; 20% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 115,914 shares) will vest, if ever, upon approval of listing of the Company's common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange approved by the Board; 10% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 57,957 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following the Company's first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $6,000,000; (continued)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">and 20% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 115,914 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following the Company's first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $10,000,000.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">On 5/1/17, the Reporting Person was granted an option to purchase up to 418,709 shares of common stock of the Company. 12.5% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 52,339 shares) vest on 5/1/18; 37.5% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 157,016 shares) vest quarterly in 12 equal amounts, commencing on 7/1/18; 10% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 41,871 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following the Company's first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds (continued)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">$6,000,000; 20% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 83,742 shares) will vest, if ever, on the February 1st following the Company's first completed fiscal year in which annual revenue exceeds $10,000,000; and 20% (relating to a total of 83,742 shares) will vest, if ever, upon approval of listing of the Company's common stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market, New York Stock Exchange or such other national securities exchange approved by the Board.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">On 12/20/17, the Reporting Person was granted an option to purchase 50,000 shares of common stock of the Company.  25% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 12,500 shares) vest on 12/20/18 and the remaining 75% of the shares subject to the option (relating to a total of 37,500 shares) vest quarterly in 12 equal amounts, commencing on 3/20/19.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Amanda Lorentz as attorney-in-fact for Andrew Astor pursuant to Power of Attorney previously filed.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-03-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
