-----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,
 WBXYJ7jhdi9Dg2moxCPbkI6gsMsQUdzKbS+u0MlZNlN9SyN1cEP+pyBogwKVPPmy
 I/usNQshYzOvPN3MJjO9vw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950145-08-000117.txt : 20081104
<SEC-HEADER>0000950145-08-000117.hdr.sgml : 20081104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081104092753
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950145-08-000117
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081104

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EMCORE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000808326
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				222746503
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0807

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		145 BELMONT DRIVE
		CITY:			SOMERSET
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08873
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7322719090

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		145 BELMONT DRIVE
		CITY:			SOMERSET
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08873

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUSSELL THOMAS
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001035930

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22175
		FILM NUMBER:		081159303

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O JESUP & MERCHANT PARTNERS LLC
		STREET 2:		650 FIFTH AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10019
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123072670
</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>2008-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808326</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMCORE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EMKR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001035930</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUSSELL THOMAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>EMCORE CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10420 RESEARCH ROAD, SE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALBUQUERQUE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NM</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>87123</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>2008-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3200</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.83</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2996780</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2280035</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By AER 1997 Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects the closing price on March 17, 2008, the date of completion of the transfer to the Reporting Person of shares pledged for an unpaid loan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas J. Russell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----