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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TtZVDjvrSud+gkI8q5k2RgYBT8Ii8g3sIRKLPD4nL+UK3T9/69d6Z+DXfIalTK+O
 /4k6kvFzR9ClqG0Y/n+iuA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000827054-10-000212.txt : 20100806
<SEC-HEADER>0000827054-10-000212.hdr.sgml : 20100806
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100806183532
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000827054-10-000212
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100806
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100806
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100806

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LITTLE MITCHELL R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001181941

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21184
		FILM NUMBER:		10999639

	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>2010-08-06</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001181941</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LITTLE MITCHELL R</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, WW Sales and Appns.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-08-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2395</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6844</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sale(s) reported in this Form 4 was/were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the Reporting Person on November 20, 2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Deborah L. Wussler, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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