<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001523711-12-000002.txt : 20120104
<SEC-HEADER>0001523711-12-000002.hdr.sgml : 20120104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120104170123
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001523711-12-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STOCKTON BRYAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194281

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05647
		FILM NUMBER:		12507081

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MATTEL, INC., 333 CONTINENTAL BLVD
		STREET 2:		M1-1518
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MATTEL INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000063276
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	DOLLS & STUFFED TOYS [3942]
		IRS NUMBER:				951567322
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		333 CONTINENTAL BLVD
		CITY:			EL SEGUNDO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90245
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3102522000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000063276</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MATTEL INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194281</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STOCKTON BRYAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MATTEL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>333 CONTINENTAL BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27022</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>27022</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27022</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option - Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>27.755</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>121753</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-01-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>121753</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>121753</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs or &quot;Units&quot;) were granted on January 3, 2012 pursuant to the Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan (the &quot;2010 Plan&quot;).  Each Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Mattel common stock (or, at the election of Mattel, Inc., a cash amount equal to the fair market value of such share). The RSUs are accompanied by dividend equivalent rights</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The RSUs vest as to 50% of the Units on the second anniversay of the date of grant and as to the remaining 50% of the Units on the third anniversay of the date of grant.  On each vesting date, for each Unit vesting on such date, the reporting person will receive one share of Mattel, Inc. common stock (or, at the election of Mattel, Inc., a cash amount equal to the fair market value of one share of common stock on the date of vesting), subject to tax withholding.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The stock option was granted on January 3, 2012 pursuant to the 2010 Plan.  The option vests and becomes exercisable, as follows: (i) 33% of the shares on the first anniversary of the date of grant, (ii) an additional 33% of the shares on the second anniversary of the date of grant, and (iii) the remaining 34% of the shares on the third anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrew Paalborg, Attorney-in-Fact for Bryan G. Stockton</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
