<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-30</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000315858</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BFC FINANCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BFCFB/BFCF</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217547</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PERTNOY EARL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1750 EAST SUNRISE BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>THIRD FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT LAUDERDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Class B</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6900</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Class A</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25444</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock Class A</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-30</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3100</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>14.10</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>17932</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Pertnoy Parent Limited Partnership</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Srock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.832</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1997-07-01</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2007-07-01</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock Class B</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>53907</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>53907</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>7.192</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1998-01-13</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-01-13</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock Class B</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>21563</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>21563</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>4.176</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>1999-04-06</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2009-04-06</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock Class B</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7188</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7188</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding><derivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Stock Option</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>3.584</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><exerciseDate><value>2003-02-07</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-02-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock Class B</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>7188</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>7188</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeHolding></derivativeTable><footnotes/><remarks>All number of shares and exercise prices have been adjusted to take into account a 25% common stock dividend with a  December 1, 2003 record date.        Pertnoy Parent Limited Partnership is a family limited partnership controlled by Earl Pertnoy.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>Earl Pertnoy</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-31</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

