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

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2004-01-20</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000316709</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCHWAB CHARLES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCH</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000923738</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHWAB CHARLES R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE CHARLES SCHWAB CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>120 KEARNY STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chairman</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Options (right to buy) </value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>13.76</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2004-01-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>300000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-07-20</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2014-01-20</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>300000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>300000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The options were granted pursuant to the Company's 2001 Stock Incentive Plan and will fully vest on July 20, 2004.  However, the exercise of the options is restricted to the earlier of three years from the grant date or the date the reporting person retires.  The sale of shares under this option grant must be three years or later from the grant date.  </footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jane E. Fry, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2004-01-22</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

