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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

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

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001214424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SLADE COLIN 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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>38.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</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>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>37.50</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>34000</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>34000</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>31.55</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="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </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>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>28.69</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>17500</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>17500</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>29.79</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24000</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>24000</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>28.74</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F7"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-11-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">At the closing of the merger between the Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporaiton, these shares were converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the per share merger consideration of $38.00.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These restricted shares were converted, pursuant to the merger agreement between the Issuer, Danaher Corporation and Raven Acquisition Corp., into restricted shares of Danaher common stock in an amount determined by multiplying the number of unvested restricted shares of Issuer immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by the Restricted Stock Exchange Ratio of 0.46114.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option, which provided for vesting in four equal annual installments beginning January 18, 2001, 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 $17,000.00, 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 provided for vesting in four equal annual installments beginning January 20, 2004, 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 $48,735.00, 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 provided for vesting in four equal installments beginning January 18, 2005.  The vested portion and part of the unvested portion (option to purchase 8,750 shares of the Issuer) was cancelled pursuant to the merger agreement between the Issuer, Danaher Corporation and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, in exchange for a cash payment of $81,462.50, representing the difference between the per share exercise price of the Issuer option and the $38.00 per share merger consideration.  The remaining unvested portion (option to purchase 8,750 shares of the Issuer) was, pursuant to the merger, converted into a stock option to purchase shares of Danaher common stock determined by multiplying the number of unvested Issuer shares immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by the Option Exchange Ratio of 0.46114, at an exercise price per share equal to the exercise price of the Issuer option divided by the Option Exchange Ratio.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This option provided for vesting in four equal installments beginning January 17, 2006.  The vested portion and part of the unvested portion (option to purchase 8,000 shares of the Issuer) was cancelled pursuant to the merger agreement between the Issuer, Danaher Corporation and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, in exchange for a cash payment of $65,680.00, representing the difference between the per share exercise price of the Issuer option and the $38.00 per share merger consideration.  The remaining unvested portion (option to purchase 16,000 shares of the Issuer) was, pursuant to the merger, converted into a stock option to purchase shares of Danaher common stock determined by multiplying the number of unvested Issuer shares immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by the Option Exchange Ratio of 0.46114, at an exercise price per share equal to the exercise price of the Issuer option divided by the Option Exchange Ratio.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">This option provided for vesting in four equal installments beginning January 16, 2007.  The vested portion and part of the unvested portion (option to purchase 12,899 shares of the Issuer) was cancelled pursuant to the merger agreement between the Issuer, Danaher Corporation and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, in exchange for a cash payment of $119,444.74, representing the difference between the per share exercise price of the Issuer option and the $38.00 per share merger consideration.  The remaining unvested portion (option to purchase 17,101 shares of the Issuer) was, pursuant to the merger, converted into a stock option to purchase shares of Danaher common stock determined by multiplying the number of unvested Issuer shares immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by the Option Exchange Ratio of 0.46114, at an exercise price per share equal to the exercise price of the Issuer option divided by the Option Exchange Ratio.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MardiLyn Saathoff, attorney-in-fact, for Colin L. Slade</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-11-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0202
4
2007-11-21
0000096879
TEKTRONIX INC
TEK
0001214424
SLADE COLIN L
PO BOX 500
14200 SW KARL BRAUN DRIVE
BEAVERTON
OR
97077-0001
0
1
0
0
Vice President and CFO
Common Stock
2007-11-21
4
D
0
4000
38.00
D
0
D
Common Stock
2007-11-21
4
D
0
13000
D
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
37.50
2007-11-21
4
D
0
34000
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
34000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
31.55
2007-11-21
4
D
0
7500
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
7500
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
28.69
2007-11-21
4
D
0
17500
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
17500
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
29.79
2007-11-21
4
D
0
24000
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
24000
0
D
Non-Qualified Stock Option
28.74
2007-11-21
4
D
0
30000
D
2007-11-21
Common Stock
30000
0
D
At the closing of the merger between the Issuer and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporaiton, these shares were converted into the right to receive a cash payment equal to the per share merger consideration of $38.00.
These restricted shares were converted, pursuant to the merger agreement between the Issuer, Danaher Corporation and Raven Acquisition Corp., into restricted shares of Danaher common stock in an amount determined by multiplying the number of unvested restricted shares of Issuer immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by the Restricted Stock Exchange Ratio of 0.46114.
This option, which provided for vesting in four equal annual installments beginning January 18, 2001, 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 $17,000.00, 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 provided for vesting in four equal annual installments beginning January 20, 2004, 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 $48,735.00, 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 provided for vesting in four equal installments beginning January 18, 2005.  The vested portion and part of the unvested portion (option to purchase 8,750 shares of the Issuer) was cancelled pursuant to the merger agreement between the Issuer, Danaher Corporation and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, in exchange for a cash payment of $81,462.50, representing the difference between the per share exercise price of the Issuer option and the $38.00 per share merger consideration.  The remaining unvested portion (option to purchase 8,750 shares of the Issuer) was, pursuant to the merger, converted into a stock option to purchase shares of Danaher common stock determined by multiplying the number of unvested Issuer shares immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by the Option Exchange Ratio of 0.46114, at an exercise price per share equal to the exercise price of the Issuer option divided by the Option Exchange Ratio.
This option provided for vesting in four equal installments beginning January 17, 2006.  The vested portion and part of the unvested portion (option to purchase 8,000 shares of the Issuer) was cancelled pursuant to the merger agreement between the Issuer, Danaher Corporation and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, in exchange for a cash payment of $65,680.00, representing the difference between the per share exercise price of the Issuer option and the $38.00 per share merger consideration.  The remaining unvested portion (option to purchase 16,000 shares of the Issuer) was, pursuant to the merger, converted into a stock option to purchase shares of Danaher common stock determined by multiplying the number of unvested Issuer shares immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by the Option Exchange Ratio of 0.46114, at an exercise price per share equal to the exercise price of the Issuer option divided by the Option Exchange Ratio.
This option provided for vesting in four equal installments beginning January 16, 2007.  The vested portion and part of the unvested portion (option to purchase 12,899 shares of the Issuer) was cancelled pursuant to the merger agreement between the Issuer, Danaher Corporation and Raven Acquisition Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Danaher Corporation, in exchange for a cash payment of $119,444.74, representing the difference between the per share exercise price of the Issuer option and the $38.00 per share merger consideration.  The remaining unvested portion (option to purchase 17,101 shares of the Issuer) was, pursuant to the merger, converted into a stock option to purchase shares of Danaher common stock determined by multiplying the number of unvested Issuer shares immediately prior to the effective time of the merger by the Option Exchange Ratio of 0.46114, at an exercise price per share equal to the exercise price of the Issuer option divided by the Option Exchange Ratio.
MardiLyn Saathoff, attorney-in-fact, for Colin L. Slade
2007-11-26