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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-11-05</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2006-11-06</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808326</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMCORE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EMKR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001035930</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUSSELL THOMAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EMCORE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10420 RESEARCH ROAD, SE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALBUQUERQUE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NM</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>87123</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</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2740978</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On November 6, 2006, the reporting person mistakenly filed a Form 4 reporting the acquisition of 87 shares of common stock that did not in fact occur. As of November 5, 2005, the reporting person owned only 2,740,978 shares of common stock. These shares were erroneously included in the totals on the Forms 4 filed by the reporting person between November 6, 2006 and March 27, 2008.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas J. Russell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
