<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000743368-04-000105
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20041207
<FILING-DATE>20041209
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20041209
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>BOWATER INC
<CIK>0000743368
<ASSIGNED-SIC>2621
<IRS-NUMBER>620721803
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
<STREET2>P O BOX 1028
<CITY>GREENVILLE
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29601
<PHONE>8642717733
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
<STREET2>P O BOX 1028
<CITY>GREENVILLE
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29602
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>AGUILAR FRANCIS J
<CIK>0001187332
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-08712
<FILM-NUMBER>041192731
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>8642717733
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O BOWATER INC
<STREET2>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY
<CITY>GREENVILLE
<STATE>SC
<ZIP>29601
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<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>2004-12-07</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000743368</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BOWATER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BOW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001187332</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AGUILAR FRANCIS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>55 EAST CAMPERDOWN WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29601</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>2004-12-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8078</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Francis J. Aguilar</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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