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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000886475</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COACTIVE MARKETING GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CMKG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000923414</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARDNER HERBERT M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4 DARLEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREAT NECK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11021</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2622</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>212870</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Reporting Person directly beneficially owns 189,104 shares of the Issuer's Common Stock, which includes (i) 10,000 shares owned by the Reporting Person's qualified plan; and (ii) 46,299 shares held by the Reporting Person's Individual Retirement Accounts. The 189,104 shares being reported herein does not include 25,180 shares owned by The Gardner Family Foundation, Inc., of which the Reporting Person is President. In addition to the 189,104 shares directly owned by the Reporting Person, the Reporting Person may be deemed to beneficially own an additional 23,766 shares of the Issuer's Common Stock held by his spouse. The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of those shares owned by his spouse and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Herbert Gardner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
