<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-02</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000770949</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REEBOK INTERNATIONAL LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RBK</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901174</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FIREMAN PAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1895 J.W. FOSTER BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02021</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-02</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1500000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>506108</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Shares held in two Grantor Retained Annuity Trusts</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4004526</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Shares held by Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4174524</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">On August 27, 2003, pursuant to a stock trading plan previously adopted under Rule 10b5-1, the Paul Fireman Reebok Grantor Retained Anuuity Trust and the Phyllis Fireman Reebok Grantor Retained Annuity Trust each each entered into a Variable Prepaid Forward Contract  with respect to 750,000 shares of Reebok International Ltd. Common Stock.   When the Contracts settle, on January 15, 2007,  the Trusts will deliver an aggregate of 1,500,000 shares subject to the Contracts.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">In consideration of the foregoing arrangement,  each Trust  received a payment on September 2, 2003 of $21,446,250. If the closing price of the Common Stock on the Settlement Date is greater than $33.25, each Trust will receive additional proceeds equal to the number of shares subject to the Contract multiplied by the difference between such closing price (up to a maximum closing pice of $39.90) and $33.25. </footnote><footnote id="F3">Includes 1,000,000 share subject to a prepaid variable forwards contract. </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>David A Pace, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-04</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

