-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TRdoYwCohxpfEbon66HbaS21YzaMbMQKPWbBPfP4TAWjnNLMBmWh2UlSvPZCGyeq
 6TMt7AbuM+c7r4JNjyOn7A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228309-03-000002.txt : 20030618
<SEC-HEADER>0001228309-03-000002.hdr.sgml : 20030618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030618153524
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228309-03-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030617
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030618

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THAMAN MICHAEL H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228309

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-03660
		FILM NUMBER:		03748802

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O OWENS CORNING
		STREET 2:		ONE OWENS CORNING PARKWAY
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			49659
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4192486861

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OWENS CORNING
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075234
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ABRASIVE ASBESTOS & MISC NONMETALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS [3290]
		IRS NUMBER:				344323452
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		OWENS CORNING WORLD HEADQUARTERS
		STREET 2:		ONE OWENS CORNING PKWY
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43659
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4192488000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		OWENS CORNING WORLD HEADQUARTERS
		STREET 2:		ONE OWENS CORNING PARKWAY
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43659

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OWENS CORNING FIBERGLAS CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075234</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>OWENS CORNING</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>owenq</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228309</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THAMAN MICHAEL H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>$.10 Par Value Common</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>51</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0.57</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>12965</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting person also held 1,297 shares indirectly in the Company's 401(k) Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rodney A. Nowland by POA 2/7/00</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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