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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-11-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214414</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AMES A GARY</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Resigned as Director 11/21/07.</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.25</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.98</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                    <value>7500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>0</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.01</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.82</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>25.35</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>29.31</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
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                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
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                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $155,625.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $157,650.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $129,900.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $51,800.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $126,500.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $60,830.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $71,820.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MardiLyn Saathoff, Attorney-in-fact, for A. Gary Ames</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-11-21
1
0000096879
TEKTRONIX INC
TEK
0001214414
AMES A GARY
PO BOX 500
14200 SW KARL BRAUN DRIVE
BEAVERTON
OR
97077-0001
0
0
0
1
Resigned as Director 11/21/07.
Non-Qualified Stock Option
17.25
2007-11-21
4
D
0
7500
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
7500
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
16.98
2007-11-21
4
D
0
7500
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
7500
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
25.01
2007-11-21
4
D
0
10000
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
10000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
32.82
2007-11-21
4
D
0
10000
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
10000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
25.35
2007-11-21
4
D
0
10000
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
10000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
29.31
2007-11-21
4
D
0
7000
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
7000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
27.74
2007-11-21
4
D
0
7000
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
7000
0
D
This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $155,625.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.
This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $157,650.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.
This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $129,900.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.
This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $51,800.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.
This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $126,500.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.
This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $60,830.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.
This option, which was 100% vested at grant, was cancelled pursuant to a merger between Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation in exchange for a cash payment of $71,820.00, representing the amount equal to the number of shares of Tektronix, Inc. common stock underlying the option multiplied by the difference between the per share exercise price and the per share merger consideration of $38.00.
MardiLyn Saathoff, Attorney-in-fact, for A. Gary Ames
2007-11-26