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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>false</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000035214</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FERRO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FOE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358620</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Thomas Peter T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FERRO CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6060 PARKLAND BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MAYFIELD HEIGHTS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44124</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>true</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman, President and CEO</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            </securityTitle>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                    <value>1081913.00</value>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                    <value>A</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>185700.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.60</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1470213.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-12-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.27</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.84</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-12-17</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-02-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-02-23</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2023-02-21</value>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
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            </underlyingSecurity>
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            <ownershipNature>
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            <securityTitle>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <value>2024-02-20</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            <exerciseDate>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>false</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <value>0.00</value>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard Shuttie, Treasurer, by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
