-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SI6t2+mkdD3FUPfmHfpHokQARNtbtEf1YP4lpQ38Nz2z/M9OElZ7plHtJWFS/q+T
 D3Xpuovtjaf3VhShDH0tOA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000054502-06-000009.txt : 20060119
<SEC-HEADER>0000054502-06-000009.hdr.sgml : 20060119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060119133716
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000054502-06-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060117
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060119
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060119

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GARDNER TED A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228680

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06446
		FILM NUMBER:		06537602

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1326 DILWORTH ROAD
		STREET 2:		1326 DILWORTH ROAD
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28203

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KINDER MORGAN INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000054502
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION [4923]
		IRS NUMBER:				480290000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			KS
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 DALLAS
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002
		BUSINESS PHONE:		713-369-9000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		500 DALLAS
		STREET 2:		SUITE 1000
		CITY:			HOUSTON
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			77002

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	K N ENERGY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KN ENERGY INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920430

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KANSAS NEBRASKA NATURAL GAS CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19830403
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000054502</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KINDER MORGAN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KMI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228680</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GARDNER TED A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1326 DILWORTH ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>97.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>223350</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 1,600 shares subject to forfeiture restrictions that lapse on 7/17/06.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Ted A. Gardner</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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