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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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 i8ish+/wfJLBp6iA57GvPg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000903732-03-000004.txt : 20031112
<SEC-HEADER>0000903732-03-000004.hdr.sgml : 20031112
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031112163605
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000903732-03-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031110
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031112

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KVH INDUSTRIES INC \DE\
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001007587
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RADIO & TV BROADCASTING & COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT [3663]
		IRS NUMBER:				050420589
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4018473327

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		110 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRIMBLE CHARLES ROBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000903732

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28082
		FILM NUMBER:		03994361

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4084818000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		645 NORTH MARY AVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94088-3642
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-10</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001007587</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KVH INDUSTRIES INC \DE\</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KVHI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000903732</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TRIMBLE CHARLES ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KVH INDUSTRIES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>50 ENTERPRISE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDDLETOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02842</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>28.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option-Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>2.375</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.375</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2000-05-26</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2004-05-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26250</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Exercise of a non-qualified stock option pursuant to the terms &amp; conditions of the company's 1996 Incentive &amp; Non-qualified stock option plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents total vested/unexercised options.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles R. Trimble</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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