-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 F5mHYcNgv2RdjWREXJKS/TLzqlVs0A0/A7lqdMqk2xVKvLKOS30PHRmmsO1ztEmL
 4lVS19X6v9NsxK3SDVasCQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001195889-03-000005.txt : 20031104
<SEC-HEADER>0001195889-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031104190014
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001195889-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031031
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			INGRAM WILLIAM P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001195889

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-12718
		FILM NUMBER:		03977559

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1235 BORDEAUX DRIVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SUPERTEX INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000730000
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				942328535
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1235 BORDEAUX DR
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94089
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087440100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1235 BORDEAUX DR
		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>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-10-31</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000730000</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERTEX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>supx</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195889</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>INGRAM WILLIAM P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V.P. Wafer Fab. Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>275</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.5915</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>275</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares purchased under Supertex, Inc., 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock Option Grant: ISO Option (to purchase common stock).  Exercise Price $10.6250.  Shares granted: 10,000.  Shares currently exercisable: 10,000.  Expiration date: 3/2/3005.  Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Stock Option Grant:  ISO Option (to purchase common stock).  Exercise Price: 11.0000.  12,000 shares granted.  Shares currently exercisable: 8,700.  3,300 shares exercisable on 3/1/2004.  Expiration date: 3/1/2006.  Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Stock Option Grant:  ISO Option (to puchase commmon stock).  Exercise Price 19.5625.  Shares Granted: 5,000.  Shares currently exercisable: 2,000.  1,000 shares exercisable 12/1/03.  1,000 shares exercisable on 12/1/04.  1,000 shares exercisable on 12/1/05.  Expiration date 12/1/07.  Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Stock Option Grant:  ISO Option (to purchase common stock).  Exercise price 10.6250.  Shares Granted: 5,000.  Shares exercised: 2,000.  Shares currently exercisable: 3,000.  Expiration date: 3/3/2004.  Held direct.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William Ingram</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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