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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001351519</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Masood Ahmed</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1235 BORDEAUX DR.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SUNNYVALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94089</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V.P. Marketing</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>ISO Option (to exercise common stock)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>4900</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>NQ Option (to exercise common stock)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>33.67</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>33.67</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-03-01</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8100</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F6"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">ISO Option Currently Granted (to exercise common stock).  Exercise Price: $33.67.  Shares Granted:  4,900.  Shares Exercisable: 0.   2,450 shares Exercisable 3/1/2010. 2,450 shares Exercisable 3/1/2011.  Expiration Date:  3/1/2013.   Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">NQ Option Currently Granted (to exercise common stock).  Exercise Price: $33.67.  Shares Granted:  8,100.  Shares Exercisable: 0.   3,550 shares Exercisable 3/1/2010. 4,550 shares Exercisable 3/1/2011.  Expiration Date:  3/1/2013.   Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">ISO Option (to exercise common stock).  Exercise price: $21.75.  Shares granted: 18,388.  Currently exercisable: 0.  4,597 shares Exercisable 12/1/2006.  4,597 shares Exercisable 12/1/2007.  4,597 shares Exercisable 12/1/2008. 4,597 shares Exercisable 12/1/2009.  Expiration date: 12/1/2011.   Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">NQ Option (to exercise common stock).  Exercise price: $21.75.  Shares granted: 5,612.  Currently exercisable: 0.  1,403 shares Exercisable 12/1/2006.  1,403 shares Exercisable 12/1/2007.  1,403 shares Exercisable 12/1/2008. 1,403 shares Exercisable 12/1/2009.  Expiration date: 12/1/2011.   Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">ISO Option (to exercise common stock).  Exercise price: $17.39.  Shares granted: 1,000.  Currently exercisable: 0.  1,000 shares Exercisable 6/1/2010.  Expiration date: 6/1/2012.   Held Direct.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">NQ Option (to exercise common stock).  Exercise price: $17.39.  Shares granted: 4,000.  Currently exercisable: 0.  1,000 shares Exercisable 6/1/2006. 1,000 shares Exercisable 6/1/2007.  1,000 shares Exercisable 6/1/2008.  1,000 shares Exercisable 6/1/2009. Expiration date: 6/1/2012.   Held Direct.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ahmed Masood</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
