<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001299239-04-000009
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041111
<FILING-DATE>20041117
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041117
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CARANO BANDEL L
<CIK>0001183755
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-27231
<FILM-NUMBER>041152755
</FILING-VALUES>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>525 UNIVERSITY AVENUE
<STREET2>SUITE 1300
<CITY>PALO ALTO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>94301
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>WIRELESS FACILITIES INC
<CIK>0001069258
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4899
<IRS-NUMBER>133818604
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4810 EASTGATE MALL
<STREET2>.
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
<PHONE>8582282494
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4810 EASTGATE MALL
<STREET2>.
<CITY>SAN DIEGO
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>92121
</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>2004-11-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001069258</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WIRELESS FACILITIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WFII</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183755</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARANO BANDEL L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O OAK INVESTMENT PARTNERS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE GORHAM ISLAND</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06880</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>2004-11-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2554</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2554</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares directly owned by Bandel L. Carano, a director of the Wireless Facilities, Inc., and received as part of an in-kind, pro-rata distribution from Meritech Capital Affiliates II, L.P. (of which Mr. Carano is a limited partner) on November 11, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bandel L. Carano</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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