<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-12-03</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866374</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FLEX</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001163715</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARKS MICHAEL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O FLEXTRONICS INTERNATIONAL LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2090 FORTUNE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95131</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Ordinary Shares</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-12-03</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>50000</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1200000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Ordinary Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2496059</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By LLC</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Ordinary Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Ordinary Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>12000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Trust</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Ordinary Shares</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Shares were gifted by the Marks Family Trust U/A/D July 7, 2000, to the Marks Family Foundation, a tax-exempt charitable foundation under Section 501 (c)(3).  </footnote><footnote id="F2">Shares are held directly by the Marks Family Trust U/A/D July 7, 2000, as amended, of which the Reporting Person is a trustee.</footnote><footnote id="F3">Shares are held directly by Epping Investment Holdings, LLC, of which the Reporting Person and his wife are the managing members.</footnote><footnote id="F4">Shares are held directly by the Justin Caine Marks Trust, as beneficiary, of which the Reporting Person is a trustee.</footnote><footnote id="F5">Shares are held directly by the Amy G. Marks Trust, as beneficiary, of which the Reporting Person is a trustee.</footnote></footnotes><remarks/><ownerSignature><signatureName>/s/ Michael E. Marks</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-12-05</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

