<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001523711-12-000031.txt : 20120316
<SEC-HEADER>0001523711-12-000031.hdr.sgml : 20120316
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20120316160438
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001523711-12-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20120314
FILED AS OF DATE:		20120316
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20120316

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EDWARDS TREVOR A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239646

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05647
		FILM NUMBER:		12697713
</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>2012-03-14</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239646</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDWARDS TREVOR A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MATTEL, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>333 CONTINENTAL BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EL SEGUNDO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90245</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>748</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>748</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>748</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Restricted Stock Units (the &quot;RSUs&quot; or the &quot;Units&quot;) were granted on March 14, 2012 pursuant to the Mattel, Inc. 2010 Equity and Long-Term Compensation Plan.  Each Unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of Common Stock (or at the election of Mattel, Inc., a cash amount equal to the fair market value of such share on the settlement date).  The RSUs are accompanied by dividend equivalent rights.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The RSUs will vest in four equal installments, as follows: (i) 25 % on June 14, 2012, (ii) 25% on September 14, 2012, (iii) 25% on December 14, 2012, and (iv) 25% on March 14, 2013.  Vested RSUs generally will be settled on the third anniversary of the grant date.  On the settlement date, for each vested RSU, the reporting person will receive one share of 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 settlement date).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrew Paalborg, as Attorney-in-Fact for Trevor A. Edwards</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
