-----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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 s29ZbBC7Z9cIXZZiGlZHUw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000892251-03-000368.txt : 20030731
<SEC-HEADER>0000892251-03-000368.hdr.sgml : 20030731
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030731113537
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000892251-03-000368
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030729
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030731

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CINTAS CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000723254
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MEN'S & BOYS' FURNISHINGS, WORK CLOTHING, AND ALLIED GARMENTS [2320]
		IRS NUMBER:				311188630
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6800 CINTAS BLVD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 625737
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45262
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5134591200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6800 CINTAS BOULEVARD
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 625737
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45262

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FARMER SCOTT D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001189287

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-11399
		FILM NUMBER:		03813533

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 625737
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45262
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5135734013
</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>2003-07-29</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000723254</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CINTAS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CTAS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001189287</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FARMER SCOTT D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President/CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>39.29</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-07-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-07-29</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options granted purusant to the Cintas Corporation's 1999 Stock Option Plan.  The options vested in five equal annual installments beginning on July 29, 2008.  Mr. Farmer also beneficially holds 442,674 shares of Cintas Common Stock directly, 139,350 shares indirectly through trusts, 83,880 through a limited partnership controlled by Mr. Farmer, 4,038 shares indirectly through his spouse and 790.0573 shares indirected through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Scott D. Farmer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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