-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 USCBdrn1/+oncOaZBMAwNNZ2NfohQHuqqQMLtQX1VKUlp6f3jpFr19eIJGO+pgAh
 gSkdGa9R73s5bYn/CY78NQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001018946-04-000122.txt : 20040715
<SEC-HEADER>0001018946-04-000122.hdr.sgml : 20040715
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040715112017
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001018946-04-000122
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040713
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040715

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STEINER LEISURE LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018946
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PERSONAL SERVICES [7200]
		IRS NUMBER:				980164731
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			C5
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		770 SOUTH DIXIE HWY.
		CITY:			CORAL GABLES
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33146
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3053589002

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		STE 104A
		STREET 2:		SAFFREY SQ
		CITY:			NASSAU
		STATE:			C5
		ZIP:			00000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WARSHAW MICHELE STEINER
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001063627

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-28972
		FILM NUMBER:		04915169

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		STEINER LEISURE LIMITED
		STREET 2:		SUITE 104A SAFFREY SQ
		CITY:			NASSAU THE BAHAMAS
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2033518113

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		STEINER LEISURE LIMITED
		STREET 2:		SUITE 104A SAFFREY SQ
		CITY:			NASSAU THE BAHAMAS
</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>2004-07-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001018946</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STEINER LEISURE LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>stnr</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001063627</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARSHAW MICHELE STEINER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>STEINER LEISURE LIMITED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 104A SAFFREY SQ</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NASSAU THE BAHAMAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-13</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>24.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1975360</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-14</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>23.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1970360</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of such securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purposes.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michele Steiner Warshaw</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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