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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000888165</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERACTIVE DATA CORP/MA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IDC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239377</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KING JOHN L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTERACTIVE DATA CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>32 CROSBY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEDFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01730</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>160</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65306</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents Restricted Stock Unit awards which will be settled solely in shares of common stock and therefore the reporting person is reporting these units as shares of common stock on Table I. These RSUs were granted in connection with the Company's payment of a $0.20 cash dividend on March 31, 2010 pursuant to the Dividend Equivalent Rights provisions of the RSUs previously granted to the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes an aggregate of 25,953 Restricted Stock Units. Each unit represents the contingent right to recieve one share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 312 shares of common stock purchased on August 21, 2009 and 312 shares of common stock purchased on February 15, 2010 under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Patricia M. Natale, Attorney-in-Fact for John L. King</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
