-----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,
 Hym3LVHr0kExzOo9J1LUzszHR4TLHS5yW7BeKTmEiw+Sm/88f5hZkm45Vjh2qBNp
 f32keH1GC6YTv3MruXAanQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001241832-10-000038.txt : 20101018
<SEC-HEADER>0001241832-10-000038.hdr.sgml : 20101018
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101018140345
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001241832-10-000038
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101015
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101018
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101018

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LOPKER KARL F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001080338
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22823
		FILM NUMBER:		101127780

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 INNOVATION PLACE
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93108

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			QAD INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001036188
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-PREPACKAGED SOFTWARE [7372]
		IRS NUMBER:				770105228
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 INNOVATION PLACE
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93108
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8055666000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		100 INNOVATION PLACE
		CITY:			SANTA BARBARA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			93108
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-10-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001036188</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>QAD INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>qadi</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001080338</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LOPKER KARL F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 INNOVATION PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA BARBARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>93108</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-10-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9170</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.19</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>284042</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Betty Weinert, Attorney in Fact for Karl F. Lopker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-10-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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