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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 V4KPR+xK3hFQ/u9qOwh1uw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001418215-08-000018.txt : 20080428
<SEC-HEADER>0001418215-08-000018.hdr.sgml : 20080428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080428160916
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001418215-08-000018
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080424
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080428
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080428

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:			CHAN NELSON C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001242653

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-29823
		FILM NUMBER:		08781266

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4085420456

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SANDISK CORP
		STREET 2:		140 CASPIAN COURT
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089
</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>2008-04-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001242653</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHAN NELSON C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SANDISK CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>140 CASPIAN COURT</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.85</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2008-04-24</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-04-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $0.0001 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Option is immediately exercisable but the shares vest upon the optionee's completion of one year of board service measured from the grant date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable per instuction 4(c)(iii).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce A. Maurer for Nelson C. Chan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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