-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 /3Se4pmqDYjrPTNl/6Cwtg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000029332-09-000005.txt : 20090303
<SEC-HEADER>0000029332-09-000005.hdr.sgml : 20090303
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090303163300
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000029332-09-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090303
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090303
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090303

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DIXIE GROUP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000029332
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CARPETS AND RUGS [2273]
		IRS NUMBER:				620183370
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			TN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1229

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2208 S. HAMILTON STREET
		CITY:			DALTON
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			307214974
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7068765851

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2208 S. HAMILTON STREET
		CITY:			DALTON
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			307214974

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DIXIE YARNS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	DIXIE MERCERIZING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19670524

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEMPSEY KENNETH L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001196588

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-02585
		FILM NUMBER:		09652048

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		736 MARKET ST
		STREET 2:		STE 1100
		CITY:			CHATTANOOGA
		STATE:			TN
		ZIP:			37402
		BUSINESS PHONE:		251-679-3503

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		716 BILL MYLES DR
		CITY:			SARALAND
		STATE:			AL
		ZIP:			36571
</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>2009-03-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029332</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DIXIE GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>dxyn</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001196588</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEMPSEY KENNETH L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>716 BILL MYLES DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SARALAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>36571</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP &amp; Pres. Masland Commercial</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $3 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40269</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $3 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.0998</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>41769</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John F. Henry, Jr., by Power of Attorney for Kenneth L. Dempsey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-03-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----