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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-08-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000093319</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STANDARD COMMERCIAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194074</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RANGARAJAN K</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>STANDARD COMMERCIAL TOBACCO SERVICES UK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STANDARD HOUSE, WEYSIDE PARK</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GODALMING, SURREY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>GU7 1XE</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; CHIEF ACCT OFFICER</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-08-10</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1005</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10681</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.40</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-06-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.90</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-08-13</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-08-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2002-08-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-08-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.00</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-08-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2005-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2250</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NON-QUALFIED STOCK OPTION - RIGHT TO BUY</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.875</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1999-08-10</value>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-08-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares underlying this option become exercisable one-fourth on each of the four anniversaries of June 11, 2003, the date of the grant, subject to continued employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares underlying this option become exercisable one-fourth on each of the four anniversaries of August 13, 2002, the date of the grant, subject to continued employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The shares underlying this option become exercisable one-fourth on each of the four anniversaries of August 14, 2001, the date of the grant, subject to continued employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The shares underlying this option become exercisable one-fourth on each of the four anniversaries of August 10, 1999, the date of the grant, subject to continued employment.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The shares underlying this option become exercisable one-fourth on each of the four anniversaries of August 10, 1998, the date of the grant, subject to continued employment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert A. Sheets, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

