-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Ju1BMJKPgOpUwVfXFODlYXrv3aW3BPLMqR/gpAVgPR7NRCwxzgBBlcDjFkjO+OHG
 nfdumahLOXKNqlaULrn01w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001184882-03-000005.txt : 20031208
<SEC-HEADER>0001184882-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031208180604
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001184882-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031208

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BOOKATAUB S JOSEPH
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001184882

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28082
		FILM NUMBER:		031043279

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

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		50 ENTERPRISE CENTER
		CITY:			MIDDLETOWN
		STATE:			RI
		ZIP:			02842

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
</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>2003-12-04</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001184882</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BOOKATAUB S JOSEPH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 ENTERPRISE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDDLETOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02842</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15741</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16450</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3759</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.6</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>16450</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option-Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>5.9</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>19500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>5.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-07-16</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2006-07-20</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>19500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired via the exercise of a non-qualified stock option grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares withheld by company for payment of the exercise price associated with the stock option exercise.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Exercise of an employee stock option pursuant to the terms and conditions of the company's 1996 Incentive &amp; Non-qualified Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sullivan Joseph Bookataub</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----