<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-26</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000096879</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TEKTRONIX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TEK</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232414</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>YANSOUNI CYRIL</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>2003-09-29</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>J</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1191</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.1694</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1191</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>by Managed Account</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><derivativeTable><derivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>25.01</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-09-26</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</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>2003-09-26</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-09-26</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/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeTransaction></derivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Annual retainer received in common shares pursuant to the Tektronix, Inc. Stock Deferral Plan and 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/><ownerSignature><signatureName>H. Paul Montgomery, Attorney-in-fact, for Cyril J. Yansouni</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-30</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-09-26
0000096879
TEKTRONIX INC
TEK
0001232414
YANSOUNI CYRIL
PO BOX 500
14200 SW KARL BRAUN DRIVE
BEAVERTON
OR
97077-0001
1
0
0
0
Common Stock
2003-09-29
5
J
0
1191
25.1694
A
1191
I
by Managed Account
Non-Qualified Stock Option
25.01
2003-09-26
5
A
0
10000
A
2003-09-26
2013-09-26
Common Stock
10000
10000
D
Annual retainer received in common shares pursuant to the Tektronix, Inc. Stock Deferral Plan and the Tektronix, Inc. 2001 Non-Employee Directors Compensation Plan.
Annual grant to Non-Employee Directors pursuant to the Tektronix, Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan.  Fully vested and transferable to family members.
H. Paul Montgomery, Attorney-in-fact, for Cyril J. Yansouni
2003-09-30