-----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,
 IcuhKRmfhkvpBMShYCg/hPzmp4XYRFV7tue8DHaIeeV0FBivBWIiMjBrXWj9FVrF
 VckJIt6hULrbRMnojZoVkQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001045309-09-000006.txt : 20090508
<SEC-HEADER>0001045309-09-000006.hdr.sgml : 20090508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090508153017
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001045309-09-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090507
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090508
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090508

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Shelnitz Mark A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001325901

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13953
		FILM NUMBER:		09810274

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O W. R. GRACE & CO.
		STREET 2:		7500 GRACE DRIVE
		CITY:			COLUMBIA
		STATE:			MD
		ZIP:			21044

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
</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>2009-05-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001325901</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Shelnitz Mark A</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>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Gen Cnsl and Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>9.785</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-07</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40590</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-05-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>40590</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40590</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted at a regularly scheduled Board of Directors meeting on May 7, 2009 pursuant to 2009-2011 Long Term Incentive Compensation Program previously approved by the Delaware Bankruptcy Court.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options become exercisable in three equal annual installments beginning on May 1, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael W. Conron as Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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