-----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,
 QNiTFjdvPqbY39HZ6QFYmyc/7wlblcRZLlmMrBnRI92/XaHjdsiT1vugqYKnMTaz
 zRH2nedQTUp9OScnmyMKgA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000096879-05-000091.txt : 20050927
<SEC-HEADER>0000096879-05-000091.hdr.sgml : 20050927
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050927172736
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000096879-05-000091
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050923
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050927
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050927

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Washington Robin L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001327145

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04837
		FILM NUMBER:		051106243

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		503-627-6803

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 500 (M/S 55-985)
		CITY:			BEAVERTON
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97077-0001

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TEKTRONIX INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000096879
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSTRUMENTS FOR MEAS & TESTING OF ELECTRICITY & ELEC SIGNALS [3825]
		IRS NUMBER:				930343990
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OR
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0528

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		14200 SW KARL BRAUN DRIVE
		CITY:			BEAVERTON
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97077
		BUSINESS PHONE:		503-627-7111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 500
		CITY:			BEAVERTON
		STATE:			OR
		ZIP:			97077-0001
</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>2005-09-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096879</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEKTRONIX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TEK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001327145</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Washington Robin L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14200 SW KARL BRAUN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BEAVERTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OR</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>97077-0001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>392</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.4554</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>392</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-09-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-09-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-09-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Retainer received in common shares pursuant to the Tektronix, Inc. 2001 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Annual grant to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to the Tektronix, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan.  Fully vested and transferable to family members.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>H. Paul Montgomery, Attorney-in-fact, for Robin L. Washington</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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