-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CQpoR7iHeu0LGbDX4B2qs0dZ9FSpkNWQWV/61sSLkxg32bjycmqCbdfz0vrzIejc
 zw0FrajV2Ko/5plsqfVBDg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000908662-05-000303.txt : 20051122
<SEC-HEADER>0000908662-05-000303.hdr.sgml : 20051122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051122141314
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000908662-05-000303
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	3
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Kruse Kevin
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001300010

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		3
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10033
		FILM NUMBER:		051220864

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		212-878-0600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O WARBURG PINCUS
		STREET 2:		466 LEXINGTON AVENUE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WELLMAN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000812708
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTIC MAIL, SYNTH RESIN/RUBBER, CELLULOS (NO GLASS) [2820]
		IRS NUMBER:				041671740
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		595 SHREWSBURY AVENUE
		CITY:			SHREWSBURY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			07702
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(732)212-3300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 31331
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28231
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-11-17</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000812708</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WELLMAN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001300010</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kruse Kevin</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O WARBURG PINCUS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>466 LEXINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10017</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>No securities beneficially owned</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kevin Kruse</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-11-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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