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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UrZVP7YCzjlJLzJW0U1/uCrpHOdq97Zignn/gQyYsc6U5+5hslbMMTkq9K80G8RK
 wO/ctCk/My7jIbVI3oZXSA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-08-011148.txt : 20081215
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-08-011148.hdr.sgml : 20081215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081215142211
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-08-011148
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081211
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081215

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COOPER COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000711404
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPHTHALMIC GOODS [3851]
		IRS NUMBER:				942657368
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6140 STONERIDGE MALL RD
		STREET 2:		STE 590
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94588
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9254603600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6140 STONERIDGE MALL ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 590
		CITY:			PLEASANTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94588

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	COOPERVISION INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARX MOSES
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000941992

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08597
		FILM NUMBER:		081249399

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2123492875

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		160 BROADWAY
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10038
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000711404</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COOPER COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000941992</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARX MOSES</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6140 STONERIDGE MALL DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 590</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLEASANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94588</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>104532</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-employee Director Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>13.08</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-12-11</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-12-10</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes></footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Moses Marx</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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