-----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,
 CjcLykVSHidu5a6L0ja5ZUeLxHJ8xTF3KXk/tlMPuigvBYIB412w5KlREqMTyA6x
 BEgazPvp+5tUFaxVG2Nk3w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001170961-03-000012.txt : 20030820
<SEC-HEADER>0001170961-03-000012.hdr.sgml : 20030820
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030820201515
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001170961-03-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030818
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030820

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAHLEN RICHARD G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001236541

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00496
		FILM NUMBER:		03858967

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1313 N MARKET ST
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19894

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HERCULES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000046989
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS [2890]
		IRS NUMBER:				510023450
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1313 N MARKET ST
		STREET 2:		HERCULES PLAZA
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19894
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3025945000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		HERCULES PLAZA
		STREET 2:		ROOM 8151 NW
		CITY:			WILMINGTON
		STATE:			DE
		ZIP:			19894-0001

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HERCULES POWDER CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680321
</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>2003-08-18</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000046989</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERCULES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HPC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001236541</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAHLEN RICHARD G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1313 N MARKET ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WILMINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DE</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19894</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Legal Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>12250</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>54212</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Also owns 3,452 shares indirectly in a 401(k) Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Richard G. Dahlen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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