-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 nThY9horfMemFEkdJNEEJw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001285081-07-000004.txt : 20070118
<SEC-HEADER>0001285081-07-000004.hdr.sgml : 20070118
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070118153107
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001285081-07-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070116
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070118
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070118

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:		400 W CESAR CHAVEZ
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5124168500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 W CESAR CHAVEZ
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WELLAND DAVID R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001134854

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29823
		FILM NUMBER:		07537752

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5124168500

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		400 W CESAR CHAVEZ
		CITY:			AUSTIN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			78701
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-01-16</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001134854</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WELLAND DAVID R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>400 W CESAR CHAVEZ</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>AUSTIN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>78701</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, $0.0001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.0458</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2472131</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold pursuant to reporting person's 10(b)5-1 plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Price represents the weighted average selling price.  Prices range between $33.96 and $34.35.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark D. Mauldin, Power of Attorney for David R. Welland</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-01-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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