-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LG5kGIHQxZL+K3F7dZhn9sPvLlHlAg+Obuy59FNPrO+2zOJbS9+KSp647lO9iYaP
 /gYQCQKxqirn1foZVOGmsQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001228189-09-000012.txt : 20090805
<SEC-HEADER>0001228189-09-000012.hdr.sgml : 20090805
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090805143827
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001228189-09-000012
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090805
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090805
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090805

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ORDWAY RONALD D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001228189

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-13394
		FILM NUMBER:		09987432

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1868 TUCKER INDL RD
		CITY:			TUCKER
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30084

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			VIDEO DISPLAY CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000758743
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS & ACCESSORIES [3670]
		IRS NUMBER:				581217564
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1868 TUCKER INDUSTRIAL DR
		CITY:			TUCKER
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30084
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7709382080

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1868 TUCKER INDUSTRIAL DR
		CITY:			TUCKER
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30084
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-08-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000758743</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VIDEO DISPLAY CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>vide</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228189</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ORDWAY RONALD D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1868 TUCKER INDL RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TUCKER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30084</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>ceo</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-08-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3026029</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald D Ordway</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-08-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----