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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 GxgG3CKIS52dyqu2RUY5pqkc97E2Lh+vmx+LDl3g95bKIneyEx/7FjXXCVr++uzs
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-05-001611.txt : 20050118
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-05-001611.hdr.sgml : 20050117
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050118091630
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-05-001611
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050118
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050118

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			FRIGON HENRY F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001205933

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15399
		FILM NUMBER:		05532180

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5023292000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		101 BULLITT LN., STE. 450
		CITY:			LOUISVILLE
		STATE:			KY
		ZIP:			40222

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PACKAGING CORP OF AMERICA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000075677
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PAPERBOARD CONTAINERS & BOXES [2650]
		IRS NUMBER:				364277050
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 W FIELD CT
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8474823000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1900 W FIELD CT
		CITY:			LAKE FOREST
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60045
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a5.xml
<DESCRIPTION>5
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075677</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PACKAGING CORP OF AMERICA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PKG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001205933</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>FRIGON HENRY F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 BULLITT LN., STE. 450</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOUISVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>KY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>40222</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of Common Stock were donated as a gift.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">All of the shares disposed of by gift were held indirectly by the Henry F. Frigon Revocable Trust.  1,500 of the shares disposed of by the Henry F. Frigon Revocable Trust were previously reported as directly beneficially owned but they were contributed to the Henry F. Frigon Revocable Trust on December 8, 2004.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Henry F. Frigon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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