-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V0cvoDQglkf8TQW/O0KRkNIqEQKDwgZmPccnSd1tjTABg7psH7iY5KDcCOzLIs1b
 HXCb3/gDWYf05/6GOv+KdA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001293772-08-000004.txt : 20081118
<SEC-HEADER>0001293772-08-000004.hdr.sgml : 20081118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081118144117
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001293772-08-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081118
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081118

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Curtin Karen
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001293772

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-09061
		FILM NUMBER:		081198014

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-374-6317

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1114 WEST WRIGHTWOOD AVE
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60614-1315

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ELECTRO RENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000032166
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC [7359]
		IRS NUMBER:				952412961
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6060 SEPULVEDA BLVD
		CITY:			VAN NUYS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91411-2512
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8187872100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6060 SEPULVEDA BLVD
		CITY:			VAN NUYS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91411
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000032166</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELECTRO RENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ELRC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001293772</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Curtin Karen</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1114 WEST WRIGHTWOOD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60614-1315</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</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1869</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.675</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10171</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.675</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1869</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-06-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1869</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The option became exercisable on June 1, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Grant of derivative security.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Karen J. Curtin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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