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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-11-26</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000093456</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STANDARD REGISTER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001332784</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Silver Point Capital L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TWO GREENWICH PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIRST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001029625</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MULE EDWARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TWO GREENWICH PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIRST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001382617</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O'Shea Robert J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>TWO GREENWICH PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>FIRST FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-11-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1715095</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>18688</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Silver Point Capital, L.P. (&quot;Silver Point&quot;) is the investment manager of Silver Point Capital Fund, L.P., SPF CDO I, Ltd. and SPCP Group, LLC (together, the &quot;Funds&quot;) and, by reason of such status, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of all of the reported securities held by the Funds. Silver Point Capital Management, LLC (&quot;Management&quot;) is the general partner of Silver Point and the investment manager of SPCP Group III, LLC, and by virtue of such status may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of all of the reported securities held by the Funds and by SPCP Group III, LLC. Mr. Edward A. Mule and Mr. Robert J. O'Shea are each members of Management and by virtue of such status may be deemed to be the beneficial owners of securities held by the Funds and by SPCP Group III, LLC (together, the &quot;SP Holders&quot;). [footnote cont'd]</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">[continuation] Silver Point, Management and Messrs. Mule and O'Shea disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities held by the SP Holders except to the extent of their pecuniary interests therein.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Represents grants of 18,688 time based restricted shares to Anthony DiNello, a director of the issuer and employee of Silver Point, that was awarded pursuant to The Standard Register Company 2002 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan. These restricted shares will vest ratably over a four year period on each anniversary date of the grant. Mr. DiNello has an understanding with Silver Point pursuant to which he holds such restricted shares for the benefit of Silver Point and certain of its affiliates. Accordingly, Mr. DiNello disclaims beneficial ownership of the restricted shares except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Frederick H. Fogel, Authorized Signatory on behalf of Silver Point Capital, LP</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Frederick H. Fogel (as attorney-in-fact on behalf of Edward A Mule, individually)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Frederick H. Fogel (as attorney-in-fact on behalf of Robert J. O'Shea, individually)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-12-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
