-----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,
 Rxoojs+zdF9EFYgBcsMl1p9eOHe6X8z1hNZGlC4NZscLrlO8IlfYlj4Rt4wa4Rm7
 hVcYD19yKXapG9u7Ye1zEg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000077551-04-000096.txt : 20040903
<SEC-HEADER>0000077551-04-000096.hdr.sgml : 20040903
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040903145049
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000077551-04-000096
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040901
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040903
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040903

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELINGARD JEAN LUC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200845

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04389
		FILM NUMBER:		041016587

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O APPLERA CORP
		STREET 2:		301 MERRITT 7
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06856-5435
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038402000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			APPLERA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000077551
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				061534213
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 MERRITT 7
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06851
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2038402000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 MERRITT 7
		CITY:			NORWALK
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06851

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990129

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PERKIN ELMER CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930601
</SEC-HEADER>
<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>2004-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077551</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLERA CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABI/CRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200845</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BELINGARD JEAN LUC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>APPLERA CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>301 MERRITT 7</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORWALK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06851-1070</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Applied Biosystems Group Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>216</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.99</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20175</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Celera Genomics Group Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>80</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.135</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5309</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas P. Livingston, Attorney-in-Fact for Jean-Luc Belingard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----