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

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-11-24</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000789019</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MICROSOFT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSFT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001478007</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Klein Peter S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MICROSOFT CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE MICROSOFT WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDMOND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98052-6399</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>94621</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 87,366 shares represented by stock awards that vest, subject to continued employment, as follows:  6,291 shares vest on August 29, 2010, 27,677 shares vest on August 31, 2010, 6,291 shares vest on August 29, 2011, 19,845 shares vest on August 31, 2011, 3,628 shares vest on August 29, 2012, 11,790 shares vest on August 31, 2012, 3,628 shares vest on August 29, 2013, 4,108 shares vest on August 31, 2013, and 4,108 shares vest on August 31, 2014.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Keith R. Dolliver, Attorney-in-Fact for Peter S. Klein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
