-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SeVw0VmcTVWpkDN2w7NmN+JqikvDknuFfxQp3lMH7mG3QFlVxOmSLQYQi3y29sCR
 uG5HYncTaIxnn0PtzFXBAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-03-002794.txt : 20030814
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-03-002794.hdr.sgml : 20030814
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030814141313
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-03-002794
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030813
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030814

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GROSSMAN LEONARD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001194437

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-02661
		FILM NUMBER:		03846073

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		742 CALABRIA LN
		CITY:			AMBLER
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19002

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CSS INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000020629
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GREETING CARDS [2771]
		IRS NUMBER:				131920657
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0331

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1845 WALNUT ST
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19103
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2155699900

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CITY STORES CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19851212
</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>2003-08-13</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000020629</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CSS INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CSS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194437</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GROSSMAN LEONARD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7705 SEMINOLE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELROSE PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19027</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 ($.10 par value)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.4713</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>242832</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock ($.10 par value)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5550</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.4049</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects three for two stock split paid July 10, 2003.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Leonard E. Grossman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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