-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 7mGeWcGfSwIlDdb2EAT29g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000090185-08-000010.txt : 20080117
<SEC-HEADER>0000090185-08-000010.hdr.sgml : 20080117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080117115436
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000090185-08-000010
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030728
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080117
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080117

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SIGMA ALDRICH CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000090185
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [5160]
		IRS NUMBER:				431050617
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3050 SPRUCE ST
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3147715765

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3050 SPRUCE STREET
		CITY:			ST LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63103

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SIGMA INTERNATIONAL LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19750925

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALDRICH CHEMICAL CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19750908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HUMMEL LARRY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200840

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08135
		FILM NUMBER:		08535177

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SIGMA ALDRICH CORP
		STREET 2:		3050 SPRUCE STREET
		CITY:			SAINT LOUIS
		STATE:			MO
		ZIP:			63103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3142868015
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-28</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000090185</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SIGMA ALDRICH CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SIAL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200840</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HUMMEL LARRY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>President, Sigma Chemical</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-28</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>55.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>12914</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11914</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares sold in 2003 were discovered as not reported during audit</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Stock Split previously reported on February 20, 2007 was overstated by 1,000 shares due to a sell transaction of 1,000 shares not previously reported in 2003.  This disposal is to bring the stock ownership back into balance.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Debbie Bockius, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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