-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 B7a7IOKKWv0ZMf1PbKlzYzpwkw619K9q7MOy6TCtEYf+s/5inhppbq8JjEM0MqwL
 7rIGnmGXIlCfFTpgrozrJA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000914190-05-000195.txt : 20050519
<SEC-HEADER>0000914190-05-000195.hdr.sgml : 20050519
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050519144215
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000914190-05-000195
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050517
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050519
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050519

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000900708
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-ELECTRONIC PARTS & EQUIPMENT, NEC [5065]
		IRS NUMBER:				943057566
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1941 RINGWOOD AVE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95131-1721
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084519400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1941 RINOWOOD AVENUE
		CITY:			SAN JOSE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95131-1721

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ILLSON JAMES E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001251005

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-21528
		FILM NUMBER:		05844467

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 MELA LANE
		CITY:			RANCO PALOS VERDES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90275
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3105441838

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		30 MELA LANE
		CITY:			RANCHO PALOS VERDES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90275
</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>2005-05-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000900708</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BELL MICROPRODUCTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BELM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001251005</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ILLSON JAMES E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1941 RINGWOOD AVE.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95131</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CFO, Executive VP Finance &amp; Op</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5345</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value></value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Vests in four annual increments of 12,500 shares beginning on May 17, 2006; no expiration date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Diane Heney as Attorney-in-Fact for James E. Illson pursuant to Power of Attorney previously filed.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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