<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-05-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096943</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TELEFLEX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TFX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251036</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRAVES JEFFREY A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>14000 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDEN PRAIRIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55344</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-05-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>627.</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6440.</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock award granted pursuant to the Teleflex Incorporated 2014 Stock Incentive Plan.  Shares vest on November 2, 2014.  The reporting person has elected to defer receipt of the shares of common stock to be issued upon vesting of this award under the Teleflex Incorporated Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Daniel V. Logue with POA for Jeffrey A. Graves</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-05-02
0
0000096943
TELEFLEX INC
TFX
0001251036
GRAVES JEFFREY A
C/O MTS SYSTEMS CORPORATION
14000 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE
EDEN PRAIRIE
MN
55344
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2014-05-02
4
A
0
627.
A
6440.
D
Restricted stock award granted pursuant to the Teleflex Incorporated 2014 Stock Incentive Plan.  Shares vest on November 2, 2014.  The reporting person has elected to defer receipt of the shares of common stock to be issued upon vesting of this award under the Teleflex Incorporated Deferred Compensation Plan.
Daniel V. Logue with POA for Jeffrey A. Graves
2014-05-06