-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NazTFWpBSXnpemzN4bbTqc4/T8IGxlBpg0NmrbUx8cgOsg2vpDlKQMbOgPFE3Ssj
 xdL4zmoXR9pS2HPz2NLsYg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001256991-04-000030.txt : 20040421
<SEC-HEADER>0001256991-04-000030.hdr.sgml : 20040421
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040421160915
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001256991-04-000030
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040419
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040421

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HEWLETT PACKARD CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000047217
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMPUTER & OFFICE EQUIPMENT [3570]
		IRS NUMBER:				941081436
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 HANOVER ST
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4158571501

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3000 HANOVER ST
		STREET 2:		MS 20BL
		CITY:			PALO ALTO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94304

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BABBIO LAWRENCE T JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001018796
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS [3571]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-04423
		FILM NUMBER:		04745647

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		COMPAQ COMPUTER CORP
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 692000 M/C 110702
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77269-2000
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7133700670

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		POST OFFICE BOX 692000 MS 110701
		STREET 2:		POST OFFICE BOX 692000 MS 110701
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77269-2000
</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>2004-04-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000047217</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HEWLETT PACKARD CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HPQ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001018796</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BABBIO LAWRENCE T JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O HEWLETT-PACKARD COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3000 HANOVER STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>21.71</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20115</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-19</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-04-18</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20115</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20115</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Right to buy Hewlett-Packard Company common stock granted under the 1997 Director Stock Plan complying with Rule 16b-3. This option will become fully exercisable on April 19, 2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Charles N. Charnas, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----