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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CD0vETuG+fYTcjZQQarN60eZC+UMq16Wpss2zT4Gn3yymUlnGpHwrYaltex6/7/Q
 0nsJzVWbioKjlk/E/POxAA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000278352-05-000071.txt : 20050611
<SEC-HEADER>0000278352-05-000071.hdr.sgml : 20050611
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050525100324
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000278352-05-000071
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050523
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050525
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050525

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000278352
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER PERIPHERAL EQUIPMENT, NEC [3577]
		IRS NUMBER:				112308681
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SYMBOL PLAZA
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11742-1300
		BUSINESS PHONE:		631-738-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE SYMBOL PLAZA
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11742-1300

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LIEB PETER M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001263967

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09802
		FILM NUMBER:		05855682

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
		STREET 2:		ONE SYMBOL PLAZA
		CITY:			HOLTSVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11768
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-23</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000278352</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SBL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001263967</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LIEB PETER M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE SYMBOL PLAZA</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOLTSVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11742</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SR. VP, GC and Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>73600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.57</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>74000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Peter Lieb</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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