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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 A97evR9OhueKKrQRZZJDoAep7F0PlI3H20yCuLHSY9v2g8ieIhHgu1NlpXPvcPkI
 w5OhmIiCS2sItGFzbUrQ+g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000827054-09-000126.txt : 20090706
<SEC-HEADER>0000827054-09-000126.hdr.sgml : 20090703
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090705160819
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000827054-09-000126
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090701
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090702
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090705

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIMONCIC RICHARD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181945

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21184
		FILM NUMBER:		09929061

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2355 W CHANDLER BLVD
		CITY:			CHANDLER
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85224-6199

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000827054
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				860629024
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2355 W CHANDLER BLVD
		CITY:			CHANDLER
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85224-6199
		BUSINESS PHONE:		480-792-7200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2355 WEST CHANDLER BLVD
		CITY:			CHANDLER
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85224-6199
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-07-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000827054</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MCHP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181945</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SIMONCIC RICHARD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2355 WEST CHANDLER BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHANDLER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85224-6199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Analog and Intrfc Prod Div</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>77681</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Held Directly and Indirectly by Trust and Reporting Person's Wife and Mother-in-Law</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-07-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5431</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5431</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5431</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of the 77,681 shares held, 5,901 shares were held Directly; 71,555 shares were held by Trust; and 225 shares were held by Reporting Person's Wife and Mother-in-Law.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Microchip Technology Incorporated common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The restricted stock units will vest in full on August 15, 2013 as long as the individual remains a service provider through the vesting date and the Company achieves performance targets for operating profit in the quarter ended September 30, 2009.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person upon vest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Deborah L. Wussler, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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