-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EM+TN57DhUlR1yMejA/bl7d0HbKXjaswDg3Yr7GHgKRpIk6N2JHu4x+wx3Iph38T
 Bjzy3Fm+av7Ij3k55/wvgg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001316415-11-000001.txt : 20110211
<SEC-HEADER>0001316415-11-000001.hdr.sgml : 20110211
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110211165000
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001316415-11-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110211
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110211

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Balog Robert J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001316415

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28082
		FILM NUMBER:		11599991

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KVH INDUSTRIES INC \DE\
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001007587
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				050420589
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4018473327

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001007587</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KVH INDUSTRIES INC \DE\</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KVHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001316415</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Balog Robert J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>KVH INDUSTRIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>50 ENTERPRISE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDDLETOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02842-5279</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Senior VP Engineering</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9375</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Not applicable.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents total vested/unexercised stock options at year-end.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert J. Balog</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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