-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 V3X7k623nXr7/8BeGGf6S+cB2LeIEg+7Yfgg2TaJ0Q/+jsHHjWDlwyFcZXbN1Pta
 qRhwguU8PKgjPYajCdb6mQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198611-03-000021.txt : 20031002
<SEC-HEADER>0001198611-03-000021.hdr.sgml : 20031002
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031002161802
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198611-03-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SILICON LABORATORIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001038074
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				742793174
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4635 BOSTON LN
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78735

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4635 BOSTON LANE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78735

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GAY GARY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197845

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29823
		FILM NUMBER:		03924607

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4635 BOSTON LANE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78735
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5124168500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4635 BOSTON LANE
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78735
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001038074</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SILICON LABORATORIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SLAB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197845</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GAY GARY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4635 BOSTON LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78735</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $0.0001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.32</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>127200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce A. Maurer, Power of Attorney for Gary R. Gay</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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