-----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,
 NAmOhvxmrccWh82Dw8pe2xliUH9OitvfXI0r/nbcL9kDhG1+6uPPBQHnFrukuWNC
 Ea/cNPkFyVuyMWKvewdUpQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001209191-03-012611.txt : 20030721
<SEC-HEADER>0001209191-03-012611.hdr.sgml : 20030721
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030721142453
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001209191-03-012611
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030721
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030721

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENDRIX LEON J JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198934

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09965
		FILM NUMBER:		03794371

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		340 SURFSONG RD
		CITY:			KIAWAH ISLAND
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29455

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000054991
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	INSTRUMENTS FOR MEAS & TESTING OF ELECTRICITY & ELEC SIGNALS [3825]
		IRS NUMBER:				340794417
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		28775 AURORA RD
		CITY:			SOLON
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44139
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2162480400
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4 SUBMISSION
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-21</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000054991</issuerCik><issuerName>KEITHLEY INSTRUMENTS INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>KEI</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001198934</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>HENDRIX LEON J JR</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>Phantom Stock Units</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>16.3144<
/value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>186.8</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2015-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2015-01-01</value><footnoteId id="F1" /></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stk</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>186.8</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>186.8</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransa
ctionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The exercisable/expiration date listed is not valid.  The phantom stock units were accrued under the Keithley Instruments, Inc. Deferred Stock Plan and are to be settled in common stock upon the retirement from the Board of the reporting person; retirement date is not yet known.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Mark J. Plush, Attorney-in Fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-21</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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