-----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,
 NMnVRg7loaXhATodWlN4TS+njup8XKKNUYGdBJk2pkDPsKS+FVQCa/augwA8ClAg
 ZRDWJBDI2JYvBMkadhDVVg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001204811-08-000013.txt : 20081204
<SEC-HEADER>0001204811-08-000013.hdr.sgml : 20081204
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081204150032
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001204811-08-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081203
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081204
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081204

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Varsell Lynn
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001358532

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25681
		FILM NUMBER:		081229746

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(561) 630-2400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BANKRATE, INC.
		STREET 2:		11760 US HIGHWAY 1 SUITE 200
		CITY:			NORTH PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33408

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANKRATE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001080866
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-BUSINESS SERVICES, NEC [7389]
		IRS NUMBER:				650423422
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11760 US HIGHWAY ONE
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			N PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33408
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5616302400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		11760 US HIGHWAY ONE
		STREET 2:		STE 200
		CITY:			N PALM BEACH
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			33408

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ILIFE COM INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	20000329

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	INTELLIGENT LIFE CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990301
</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>2008-12-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001080866</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BANKRATE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RATE</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001358532</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Varsell Lynn</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BANKRATE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>11760 US HIGHWAY 1 SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTH PALM BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33408</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP-Publisher</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11459</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.13</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11459</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11459</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee stock option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>17.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11459</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-05-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>11459</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lynn E. Varsell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By:Robert J. DeFranco, Attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----