<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0206</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000844965</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TETRA TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>TTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001774290</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Moeller Timothy C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>24955 INTERSTATE 45 N</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THE WOODLANDS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77380</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>false</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>true</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>false</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>false</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; Chief Procurement Officer</officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12172.00</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>26905.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30557.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>4.19</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2028-05-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>16618.00</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The restricted stock award was granted pursuant to the TETRA Technologies, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan. One-third of the award vested on May 4, 2019, and the remaining one-third portions will vest on May 4, 2020 and May 4, 2021.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each restricted stock unit (&quot;RSU&quot;) represents the contingent right to receive one share of Issuer's common stock upon vesting of the unit. The closing price of the Issuer's common stock on the date of this RSU award was $2.50.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The RSU was granted pursuant to the TETRA Technologies, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.  One-third of the award will vest on February 21, 2020, and one-sixth at the completion of each six-month period thereafter until February 21, 2022, subject to continued service with the Issuer on each respective vesting date.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person on the settlement date unless the Issuer elects to settle the RSUs in cash, or a combination of shares and cash, in the Issuer's sole discretion.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each restricted stock unit (&quot;RSU&quot;) represents the contingent right to receive one share of Issuer's common stock upon vesting of the unit. The closing price of the Issuer's common stock on the date of this RSU award was $ 2.20.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The RSU was granted pursuant to the TETRA Technologies, Inc. 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.  The award will cliff-vest on May 2, 2022, subject to continued service with the Issuer on the vesting date.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person on the settlement date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">This stock option award was granted pursuant to the TETRA Technologies, Inc. Third Amended and Restated 2011 Long Term Incentive Compensation Plan. One-third of the award vested May 4, 2019 and the remaining portion will vest one-third on each of May 4, 2020 and May 4, 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kimberly M. O'Brien, attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-05-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
