-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 P5ZEqhmwOgUHS5PFX548VTNYZ5JzXmwPRyUxysFeCusKHHevGHltfAOEzvFhxVho
 hnjgpznh8blk/7+oPhECjA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001045309-04-000001.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0001045309-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106145904
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001045309-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			W R GRACE & CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001045309
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [2800]
		IRS NUMBER:				650773649
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7500 GRACE DRIVE
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21044
		BUSINESS PHONE:		410 531 4000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7500 GRACE DRIVE
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21044

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GRACE SPECIALTY CHEMICALS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970902

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AKERS JOHN F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188381

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13953
		FILM NUMBER:		04509710

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE STAMFORD PLAZA
		STREET 2:		263 TRESSER BLVD 9TH FL
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2034064051

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE STAMFORD PLAZA
		STREET 2:		263 TRESSER BLVD 9TH FL
		CITY:			STAMFORD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06901
</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>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001045309</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>W R GRACE &amp; CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188381</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AKERS JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O W. R. GRACE &amp; CO.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7500 GRACE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>COLUMBIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21044</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9259</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38996</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15196</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each share of Common Stock also represents one Prefferred Stock Purchase Right.  Each such Right entitles the holder to purchase Preferred Stock or other securities or property upon the occurrence of certain events and subject to certain conditions.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Issued in partial payment of 2003 Board retainer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Such shares are held in a trust established by the issuer for the benefit of certain officers and directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Mark A. Shelnitz, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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