-----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,
 UDVIqgxmp6OXMCkpP82CqWyz4gpyvs/sU41ohERuWwfUZTDOUrDgIepriP3YIhgy
 SZoq6V3cEmI/45+Re8xLVQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-09-025823.txt : 20091221
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-09-025823.hdr.sgml : 20091221
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20091221155525
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-09-025823
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20091218
FILED AS OF DATE:		20091221
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20091221

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Allan Graham D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001315750

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13163
		FILM NUMBER:		091252420

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1441 GARDINER LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			YUM BRANDS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001041061
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				133951308
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1120

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1441 GARDINER LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5028748300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 COLONEL SANDERS LANE
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40213

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	TRICON GLOBAL RESTAURANTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970627

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GREAT AMERICAN RESTAURANT CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970618
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-12-18</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001041061</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>YUM BRANDS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>YUM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001315750</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Allan Graham D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>14841 DALLAS PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75254</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>President - YRI</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>42322</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.5703</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>353094</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>7.5703</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>42322</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-01-27</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-01-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>42322</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ M. Gayle Hobson, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----