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

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-19</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000099302</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TRANSCAT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TRNS</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001231778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SMITH JOHN T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O TRANSCAT, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>35 VANTAGE POINT DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCHESTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14624</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, $.50 par value</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-08-19</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>3066</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5466</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Warrant (Right to Buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>2.31</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-08-20</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>0</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><footnoteId id="F2"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2008-08-19</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock, par value $.50 per share</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Automatic grant pursuant to the Transcat, Inc. Directors' Stock Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.  </footnote><footnote id="F2">This non-transferable warrant was granted under the Transcat, Inc. Amended and Restated Directors' Warrant Plan in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.  Mr. Smith can exercise this warrant in cumulative increments of 1,000 shares after each of the following dates, providing the market price of the Company's Common Stock meets or exceeds, for 20 of 30 consecutive trading days, the following respective amounts: 8/20/03--$3.50; 1/1/04--$5.00; 1/1/05--$6.50; 1/1/06--$7.00; to the extent such market price requirements are not satisfied, the balance of the option becomes exercisable on 8/20/07.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>John T. Smith</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

