-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 R20PskpdAAu8VLJ0WL/9nQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001257172-03-000001.txt : 20031119
<SEC-HEADER>0001257172-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20031119
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031119214054
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001257172-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031119

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NANOMETRICS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000704532
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEASURING & CONTROLLING DEVICES, NEC [3829]
		IRS NUMBER:				942276314
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		310 DEGUIGNE DR
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4087461600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		310 DEGUIGNE DRIVE
		CITY:			SUNNYVALE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94086

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WARD EDMOND R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001257172

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13470
		FILM NUMBER:		031014185

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17324 EATON LANE
		CITY:			MONTE SERENO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95030
		BUSINESS PHONE:		408 354 3866

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		17324 EATON LANE
		CITY:			MONTE SERENO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			95030
</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>2003-11-18</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000704532</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NANOMETRICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>nano</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001257172</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WARD EDMOND R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>17324 EATON LANE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONTE SERENO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95030</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nanometrics common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-11-18</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.875</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5300</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nanometrics common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2003-11-18</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ed R. Ward</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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