-----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,
 AsuFFikcL5s0RUFRyHwqryTaAMIGH0odYQ/5u6UryjPIlSwt3Nb0KBJ+kID8Qbto
 r041LAuYzd27emg8rgUP0w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001212630-03-000001.txt : 20030506
<SEC-HEADER>0001212630-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030506
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030505195430
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001212630-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030502
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030506

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GAP INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000039911
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-FAMILY CLOTHING STORES [5651]
		IRS NUMBER:				941697231
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0131

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO FOLSOM STREET
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4159524400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		TWO FOLSOM STREET
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94105

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	GAP STORES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19850617

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HATCHETT GLENDA A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001212630

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07562
		FILM NUMBER:		03682939

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 FOLSOM STREET
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94105
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4154272515
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-02</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000039911</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GAP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GPS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001212630</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HATCHETT GLENDA A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>STOCK OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>4.1</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1422</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-02</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-05-02</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>1422</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>1422</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>FRANK R. GARCIA, ATTORNEY IN FACT</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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