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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Q+E22uSWV1Qpo33EX37EpTwRHIK/nzupI2AOjWzVFqpl4hPcYL/vWQvAvoukM/RX
 eb9nQceZSTh/ByDD2euLTw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000757011-04-000032.txt : 20041208
<SEC-HEADER>0000757011-04-000032.hdr.sgml : 20041208
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041208105807
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000757011-04-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041206
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041208
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041208

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			USG CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000757011
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CONCRETE GYPSUM  PLASTER PRODUCTS [3270]
		IRS NUMBER:				363329400
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		125 S FRANKLIN ST
		STREET 2:		DEPT. 188
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3126064000

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LORIMER MICHAEL C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001207302

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08864
		FILM NUMBER:		041189969

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		USG CORP
		STREET 2:		125 S FRANKLIN STREET DEPT 188
		CITY:			CHICAGO
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-12-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000757011</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>USG CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>usg</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001207302</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LORIMER MICHAEL C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>USG CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>125 S FRANKLIN STREET DEPT 188</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>22.49</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.49</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2003-01-02</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2011-01-02</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The transaction shown in this report was a 5,000 share in-the-money &quot;cashless&quot; non-qualified stock option exercise emerging from a January 2, 2001, grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert J.Burrell, Attorney-In-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-12-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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