<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895419-13-000031.txt : 20130524
<SEC-HEADER>0000895419-13-000031.hdr.sgml : 20130524
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130524093756
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895419-13-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		2
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130524
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130524

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MITCHELL TYRONE D JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001533172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21154
		FILM NUMBER:		13870340

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		324 GLENDALE DRIVE
		CITY:			CHAPEL HILL
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27514

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CREE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000895419
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				561572719
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9194075300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4600 SILICON DR
		CITY:			DURHAM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27703-8475

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CREE RESEARCH INC /NC/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19940224
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000895419</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CREE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CREE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001533172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MITCHELL TYRONE D JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CREE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4600 SILICON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DURHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27703</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>35.89</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>73761</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.9015</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48761</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>61.90</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>46261</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NONQUALIFIED STOCK OPTION (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>35.89</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-09-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>25000</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">The sales reported on this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by Mr. Mitchell on August 30, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option vested as to 11,667 shares on each of September 1, 2010 and September 1, 2011 and as to 11,666 shares on September 1, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Tamara Cappelson, as agent for Tyrone D. Mitchell, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-05-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-24
<SEQUENCE>2
<FILENAME>poa_mitchell.htm
<DESCRIPTION>POWER OF ATTORNEY - TYRONE D. MITCHELL, JR.
<TEXT>
<HTML><BODY><PRE>POWER OF ATTORNEY





I, the person whose signature appears below, hereby appoint Adam H. Broome, Secretary of Cree, Inc. (the "Company"), and Tamara Cappelson, Stock Plan Manager of the Company, and each of them individually, as my attorneys-in-fact with the power and authority:



* to execute and file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on my behalf, pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules thereunder: (1) Form ID, Uniform Application for Access Codes to File on EDGAR; (2) Initial Statement of Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 3; (3) Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 4; and (4) Annual Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership on Form 5; and any amendments thereto, with respect to my service as a director and/or officer of the Company and my holdings of and transactions in Company securities of which I may be deemed the beneficial owner;

* to do and perform on my behalf any and all other acts necessary or desirable to complete, execute and timely file such Forms ID, 3, 4 and 5 and any amendments thereto with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and, if necessary, any stock exchange or similar authority, including but not limited to the power to designate any person then serving as a director or officer of the Company to be an additional or substitute attorney-in-fact under this Power of Attorney with the same power and authority as if such person were named herein, and to take any other action in connection with the foregoing which, in the opinion of such attorney-in-fact, may be of benefit to, in the best interest of or legally required by me, it being understood that the documents executed by such attorney-in-fact on my behalf pursuant to this Power of Attorney shall be in such form and shall contain such terms and conditions as the attorney-in-fact may approve in his or her discretion.



The authority granted under this Power of Attorney shall continue in effect for each attorney-in-fact named above until I am no longer required to file reports with respect to my holdings of and transactions in Company securities or unless earlier revoked in a writing signed by me and delivered to such attorney-in-fact.  I acknowledge that neither the attorneys-in-fact nor the Company is assuming any of my responsibilities to comply with Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.



IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have signed this Power of Attorney on the date shown below.





/s/ Tyrone D. Mitchell, Jr.

Signature



 Tyrone D. Mitchell, Jr.

Typed or Printed Name



 October 11, 2011

Date Signed

</PRE></BODY></HTML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
