-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 koRs3a21A7+kUo90FHgSlA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000950103-11-000809.txt : 20110228
<SEC-HEADER>0000950103-11-000809.hdr.sgml : 20110228
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20110228182619
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000950103-11-000809
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20110225
FILED AS OF DATE:		20110228
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20110228

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAYWARD DEBORAH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001283713

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-50646
		FILM NUMBER:		11648199

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		150 INDEPENDENCE DR
		STREET 2:		C/O ULTRA CLEAN
		CITY:			MENLO PARK
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94025

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ULTRA CLEAN HOLDINGS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001275014
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				611430858
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26462 CORPORATE AVENUE
		CITY:			HAYWARD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94545
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(510) 576-4400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		26462 CORPORATE AVENUE
		CITY:			HAYWARD
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94545
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-02-25</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001275014</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ULTRA CLEAN HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UCTT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283713</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAYWARD DEBORAH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ULTRA CLEAN HOLDINGS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>26462 CORPORATE AVE.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAYWARD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94545</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President, Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41001</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-02-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44251</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock units vest over 3 years from the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Share amounts represent performance restricted stock units. The final award amount will be determined in 2012 based on performance factors and will be between 0 and 100% of the restricted stock units reported here, with vesting 1/3 at that time and 1/3 in each of the following two years subject to continued employment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Clarence Granger as Attorney-in-Fact for Deborah E. Hayward</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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