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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-02-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000729156</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEOPLES EDUCATIONAL HOLDINGS</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PEDH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001424410</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Adam Smith Fund, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHERRY TREE INVESTMENTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>301 CARLSON PARKWAY, SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNETONKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55305</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001477561</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Adam Smith Management, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHERRY TREE INVESTMENTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>301 CARLSON PARKWAY, SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNETONKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55305</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>see footnote 1, 2</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301052</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Adam Smith Companies, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHERRY TREE INVESTMENTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>301 CARLSON PARKWAY, SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNETONKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>see footnote 1, 2</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205409</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHRISTIANSON TONY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CHERRY TREE INVESTMENTS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>301 CARLSON PARKWAY, SUITE 103</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MINNETONKA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55305</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>see footnote 1, 2</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>36792</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1613915</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These securities are owned directly by Adam Smith Fund, LLC (&quot;Fund&quot;), and indirectly by Adam Smith Management, LLC (&quot;ASM&quot;), as investment manager of the Fund, by Adam Smith Companies, LLC, as manager of ASM, and by Tony J. Christianson as manager of Adam Smith Companies, LLC.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported herein except to the extent of their pecuniary interests in such shares. This report shall not be deemed an admission by any of the reporting persons that it is the beneficial owner of these securities for the purpose of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Fund received 36,792 shares pursuant to in-kind contributions from members of the Fund.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Adam Smith Fund, LLC By: /s/ Tony J. Christianson, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Adam Smith Management, LLC  By: /s/ Tony J. Christianson, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Adam Smith Companies, LLC   By: /s/ Tony J. Christianson, Manager</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Tony J. Christianson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
