-----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,
 NjiQMeVRZHGEQrhLFIApATzGxRbeJqDS0mmho1tznNt8hVNIzJFk4+Na53QLmRGP
 5lco82ZC7ZIFNkIsSAH6TQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001135080-03-000020.txt : 20030723
<SEC-HEADER>0001135080-03-000020.hdr.sgml : 20030723
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030723104116
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001135080-03-000020
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030722
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030723

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MORRIS WILLIAM C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001135080

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15903
		FILM NUMBER:		03797576

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		J&W SELIGMAN & CO INC
		STREET 2:		100 PARK AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		J&W SELIGMAN & CO INC
		STREET 2:		100 PARK AVE
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARBO CERAMICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001009672
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ABRASIVE ASBESTOS & MISC NONMETALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS [3290]
		IRS NUMBER:				721100013
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6565 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1050
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2144010090

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6565 MACARTHUR BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1050
		CITY:			IRVING
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75039
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-22</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001009672</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CARBO CERAMICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001135080</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MORRIS WILLIAM C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-22</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>2000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>37.4</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>2533900</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Does not include indirect holdings consisting of 500,000 shares held by spouse and 81,000 shares held by certain charitable trusts of which Mr. Morris is an officer.  Mr. Morris disclaims beneficial ownership of all of these shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Judith G. Kuhlmann, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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