-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ge57KEeMaZ/UMRoxDEvyRfRazqtLfUiJMloP9xEPFPztafoDP0oBzNeGHih9juLz
 U/h944iwmkdxHLhNIpP0tQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000004281-09-000002.txt : 20090105
<SEC-HEADER>0000004281-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090105
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090105154941
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000004281-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090105
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090105

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALCOA INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000004281
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ROLLING DRAWING & EXTRUDING OF NONFERROUS METALS [3350]
		IRS NUMBER:				250317820
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		201 ISABELLA ST
		STREET 2:		ALCOA CORPORATE CTR
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15212-5858
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4125532576

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		801 ISABELLA ST
		STREET 2:		ALCOA CORPORATE CTR
		CITY:			PITTSBURGH
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			15212-5858

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALUMINUM CO OF AMERICA
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GORMAN JOSEPH T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001136543

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03610
		FILM NUMBER:		09504941

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 RICHMOND RD
		CITY:			LYNDHURST
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44124
</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>2009-01-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000004281</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALCOA INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001136543</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GORMAN JOSEPH T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>201 ISABELLA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PITTSBURGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15212</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6279</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3223</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.945</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3223</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>101047</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes shares acquired under dividend reinvestment plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">1 For 1</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Phantom stock units were acquired under the Alcoa 2005 Deferred Fee Plan for Directors and are to be paid out in cash after Board service ends.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Brenda Hart (Assistant Secretary), by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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