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

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-09-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000730000</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SUPERTEX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>supx</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001195893</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETERSEN WILLIAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Worldwide Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ STOCK OPTIONS (TO EXERCISE COMMON STOCK)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.51</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.51</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-09-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ STOCK OPTIONS (TO EXERCISE COMMON STOCK)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>19.51</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-09-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.51</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2015-09-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-09-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">NQ Option (to exercise common stock). Exercise Price: $33.9500.  Shares Granted: 25,000.  Shares Exercisable: 15,000.  5,000 shares exercisable on 12/03/2011.  5,000 shares exercisable on 12/03/2012.  Expiration Date: 12/03/2017.    Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">NQ Option (to exercise common stock). Exercise Price: $20.8500.  Shares Granted: 25,000.  Shares Exercisable: 10,000.    5,000 shares exercisable on 12/01/2011.  5,000 shares exercisable on 12/01/2012.  5.000 shares exercisable on 12/01/2013.  Expiration Date: 12/01/2018.    Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">NQ Option (to exercise common stock).  Exercise Price: $19.5100.  Shares Currently Being Granted:  10,000.  Shares Exercisable: 0.  5,000 shares exercisable on 9/1/2014.  5,000 shares exercisable on 12/1/2015.   Expiration Date: 9/1/2021.   Held Direct.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William Petersen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-09-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
