<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000895419-08-000065
<TYPE>4
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20080904
<FILING-DATE>20080905
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20080905
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CREE INC
<CIK>0000895419
<ASSIGNED-SIC>3674
<IRS-NUMBER>561572719
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>NC
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>0628
</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>VON ARX DOLPH W
<CIK>0001018926
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>4
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>000-21154
<FILM-NUMBER>081059525
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<PHONE>2396497095
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>3663 RUM ROW
<STREET2>3663 RUM ROW
<CITY>NAPLES
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>34102
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4487</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.06</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.08</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>638306</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.10</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>636206</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Of the 636,206 shares reported, (1) 63,500 shares are held directly; (2) 488,380 shares are held indirectly in a revocable living trust for the benefit of Mr. von Arx; (3) 15,000 shares are held indirectly in a revocable living trust for the benefit of Mr. von Arx's spouse; and (4) 69,326 shares are held indirectly in a family trust.  Mr. von Arx disclaims beneficial ownership of the 69,326 shares held by the family trust.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dolph W. von Arx</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
