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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-07-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004164</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALPINE GROUP INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>APNI.OB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001250952</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHUT BRAGI F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE ALPINE GROUP, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE MEADOWLANDS PLAZA, SUITE 801</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EAST RUTHERFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07073</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-07-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1008</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.10</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>385313</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-04-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2045</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10305</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By spouse.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.51</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-06-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>322</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>380.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-11-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-12-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>239249</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>322</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>.51</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-06-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>478</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>380.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-11-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-12-21</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>355159</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>478</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Through a limited liability company.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares owned by Mr. Schut's wife.  Mr. Schut disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares, and this report should not be deemed an admission that Mr. Schut is the beneficial owner of such shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">As previously disclosed in the Company's filings with the Commission, the original conversion price of the Series A Preferred Stock ($0.55) was adjusted to $0.51, as a result of the payment of a special dividend in respect of the Company's Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Convertible into common stock at any time after the earlier to occur of (y) the consummation of the first public offering to stockholders of the Company of rights to purchase shares of Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (&quot;Series A Preferred Stock&quot;) and (z) March 31, 2004, and prior to (i) the date which is 10 days preceding the date fixed for the redemption of the Series A Preferred Stock if there is no default in payment of the change of control redemption price and (ii) December 21, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The Company will redeem 1/12th of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock on December 31, 2009 and on the last day of every calendar quarter thereafter until all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock have been redeemed.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Shares owned by Mr. Schut through his interest in a limited liability company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Sale of Common Stock pursuant to the Company's Modified Dutch Auction Tender Offer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Grant of restricted stock pursuant to the Company's Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stewart H. Wahrsager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-07-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
