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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 +KkWBcIHn0MCl2D6sQobPA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-04-000500.txt : 20040109
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-04-000500.hdr.sgml : 20040109
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040109144722
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-04-000500
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040109

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRADIN ROGER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246989

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14130
		FILM NUMBER:		04517662

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC
		STREET 2:		75 MAXESS RD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001003078
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [5084]
		IRS NUMBER:				113289165
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0902

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		75 MAXESS RD
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
		BUSINESS PHONE:		516-812-2000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		151 SUNNYSIDE BLVD
		CITY:			PLAINVIEW
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11803
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2004-01-06</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001003078</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MSM</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246989</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRADIN ROGER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MSC INDUSTRIAL DIRECT CO INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>75 MAXESS RD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11747</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>28.30</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2004-01-06</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>0</value>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2014-01-06</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>See Footnote</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>5000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>5000</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Class A Common Stock, $.001 par value</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Options to purchase 2,500 shares of Class A Common Stock are exercisable on January 6, 2005 and 2,500 shares of Class A Common Stock are exercisable on January 6, 2006. </footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Roger Fradin</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2004-01-09</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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