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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-24</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2009-12-29</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000314808</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Ensco International plc</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ESV</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198582</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLY THOMAS L II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>500 N. AKARD STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 4300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201-3331</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>American Depository Shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.15</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36719</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The American Depository Shares represent Class A Ordinary Shares.  The issuer, Ensco International plc, is successor to ENSCO International Incorporated.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">On 12/24/2009 the Reporting Person acquired a total of 25,000 American Depository Shares (&quot;ADS's&quot;) in an open market transaction with an average price of $42.15.  On 12/29/2009 300 ADS's, with a price of $42.085 per share, out of the total 25,000 ADS's acquired were reported with an acquisition date of 12/04/2009 in error.  The subject 300 ADS's were acquired on 12/24/2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Cary A. Moomjian, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
