<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000895419-08-000024
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080208
<FILING-DATE>20080212
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080212
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CREE INC
<CIK>0000895419
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3674
<IRS-NUMBER>561572719
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NC
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0629
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4600 SILICON DR
<CITY>DURHAM
<STATE>NC
<ZIP>27703
<PHONE>9193135300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>4600 SILICON DR
<CITY>DURHAM
<STATE>NC
<ZIP>27703-8475
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
<FORMER-COMPANY>
<FORMER-CONFORMED-NAME>CREE RESEARCH INC /NC/
<DATE-CHANGED>19940224
</FORMER-COMPANY>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>SWOBODA CHARLES M
<CIK>0001182180
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21154
<FILM-NUMBER>08598508
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>919-313-5300
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>C/O CREE, INC.
<STREET2>4600 SILICON DRIVE
<CITY>DURHAM
<STATE>NC
<ZIP>27703
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
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                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>18.875</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-02-08</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>44340</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-07-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-01</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                    <value>0</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported on this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by Mr. Swoboda on December 2, 2005 and modified on August 21, 2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option vested and became exercisable as to 40,000 shares on each of 7/1/2000 and 7/1/2001.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles M. Swoboda</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-02-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
