-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CMux0mbjwl24XcY3WH5sviDDwTp0v95uWSmWypG07XtFoVypxq+T+RNSeKfKvdw/
 3lxReb9NvBuQsrFhVuG8Sw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908662-06-000022.txt : 20060117
<SEC-HEADER>0000908662-06-000022.hdr.sgml : 20060116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060117155121
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908662-06-000022
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060113
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060117

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TUCKER JOSEPH C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189562

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10033
		FILM NUMBER:		06533011

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 31331
		CITY:			CHARRLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28231

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WELLMAN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000812708
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTIC MAIL, SYNTH RESIN/RUBBER, CELLULOS (NO GLASS) [2820]
		IRS NUMBER:				041671740
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		595 SHREWSBURY AVENUE
		CITY:			SHREWSBURY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(732)212-3300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 31331
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28231
</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>2006-01-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812708</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WELLMAN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189562</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TUCKER JOSEPH C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WELLMAN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>595 SHREWSBURY AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SHREWSBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07702</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP Fibers &amp; Recycled Products</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>88318</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17755.3966</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Through company retirement plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of restricted stock.  The stock is subject to vesting restrictions.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joseph Tucker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----