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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 WTEMKhkBnnHwSkAOhXDH7mG75lsgelnXt0gQxUv6xxLeuoEa2PfucCY/WTRegKNw
 4epCwu+PhdtJ7Mrm3liTmg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001186555-07-000001.txt : 20070427
<SEC-HEADER>0001186555-07-000001.hdr.sgml : 20070427
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070427150925
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001186555-07-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070426
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070427
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070427

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000857005
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				042866152
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		140 KENDRICK STREET
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7813705000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		140 KENDRICK STREET
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEPPELMANN JAMES E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001186555

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-18059
		FILM NUMBER:		07795397

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP
		STREET 2:		140 KENDRICK ST
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7813705000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP
		STREET 2:		140 KENDRICK ST.
		CITY:			NEEDHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02494
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-04-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000857005</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pmtc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001186555</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HEPPELMANN JAMES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PARAMETRIC TECHNOLOGY CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>140 KENDRICK ST.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEEDHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02494</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP Chief Product Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-04-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.3613</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>278986</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold pursuant to a pre-established Rule 10b5-1(c) trading plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Christopher J. MacKrell pursuant to power of attorney filed July 6, 2005</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-04-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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