-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ORzKKhnTP5Wst2mhrbKUaU/cok0/1yOce5sxrGkW+yRAyjl8oms+PLUAY+ERuFKo
 K5LK8C3l73POExsaiisypA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001026608-08-000175.txt : 20080807
<SEC-HEADER>0001026608-08-000175.hdr.sgml : 20080807
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080807165257
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001026608-08-000175
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080807
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080807
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080807

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ACME UNITED CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000002098
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE [3420]
		IRS NUMBER:				060236700
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		60 ROUND HILL ROAD
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06824
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-254-6060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		60 ROUND HILL ROAD
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06824

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ACME SHEAR CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19710713

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OLSCHAN BRIAN S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001213244

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07698
		FILM NUMBER:		08999274

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1931 BLACK ROCK TURNPIKE
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06825
		BUSINESS PHONE:		203-254-6060

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O ACME UNITED CORP
		STREET 2:		60 ROUND HILL ROAD
		CITY:			FAIRFIELD
		STATE:			CT
		ZIP:			06824
</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>2008-08-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000002098</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ACME UNITED CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACU</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001213244</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OLSCHAN BRIAN S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ACME UNITED CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>60 ROUND HILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FAIRFIELD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06824</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.19</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-08-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.19</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-08-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>127500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">3,750 shares will vest on 8/6/09, 3,750 shares will vest on 8/6/10, 3,750 shares will vest on 8/6/11 and 3,750 shares will vest on 8/6/12</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brian S. Olschan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-08-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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