<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0001111928-08-000145
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20081110
<FILING-DATE>20081216
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20081216
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>IPG PHOTONICS CORP
<CIK>0001111928
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3674
<IRS-NUMBER>043444218
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 OLD WEBSTER ROAD
<CITY>OXFORD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01540
<PHONE>5083731100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 OLD WEBSTER ROAD
<CITY>OXFORD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01540
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>Shiner William H
<CIK>0001392059
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-33155
<FILM-NUMBER>081252522
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>508-373-1100
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION
<STREET2>50 OLD WEBSTER ROAD
<CITY>OXFORD
<STATE>MA
<ZIP>01540
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>2008-11-10</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001111928</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IPG PHOTONICS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IPGP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001392059</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shiner William H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O IPG PHOTONICS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>50 OLD WEBSTER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>OXFORD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01540</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Industrial  Products</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42650</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock units vesting 25% on first, second, third and fourth anniversaries of 11/10/08.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Angelo P. Lopresti, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
