<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001301637-04-000002
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041121
<FILING-DATE>20041123
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041123
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Wagler Theresa E
<CIK>0001301637
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21719
<FILM-NUMBER>041164064
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>260-969-3567
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6714 POINTE INVERNESS WAY, SUITE 200
<CITY>FORT WAYNE
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46804
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>STEEL DYNAMICS INC
<CIK>0001022671
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3312
<IRS-NUMBER>351929476
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>IN
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6714 POINTE INVERNESS WAY
<STREET2>SUITE 200
<CITY>FORT WAYNE
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46804
<PHONE>2604593553
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>6714 POINTE INVERNESS WAY
<STREET2>SUITE 200
<CITY>FORT WAYNE
<STATE>IN
<ZIP>46804
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022671</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEEL DYNAMICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STLD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301637</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Wagler Theresa E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6714 POINTE INVERNESS WAY, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT WAYNE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>46804</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Acting Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>796</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-05-21</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>796</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>796</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Steel Dynamics, Inc. 1996 Incentive Stock Option Plan approved by stockholders and exempt from Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 pursuant to Rule 16b-3 thereunder.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Theresa E. Wagler</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
