-----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,
 RzqJBUVJYpVX33tY9P2hGl9XBij4l+mqOjQfvoM7cGuIi8qbA9LhTjyb52x2IjK+
 mrn9bXeyL1QvIlP1886fgA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001320589-05-000001.txt : 20050428
<SEC-HEADER>0001320589-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050428
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050428162427
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001320589-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050427
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050428
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050428

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Breitung John Charles
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001320589

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05131
		FILM NUMBER:		05780981

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		712 864-3825

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		5571 6TH AVENUE
		CITY:			ARMSTRONG
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50514

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARTS WAY MANUFACTURING CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000007623
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT [3523]
		IRS NUMBER:				420920725
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0531

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 288
		CITY:			ARMSTRONG
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50514
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7128643131

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 288
		CITY:			ARMSTRONG
		STATE:			IA
		ZIP:			50514
</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>2005-04-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007623</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARTS WAY MANUFACTURING CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>artw</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001320589</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Breitung John Charles</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5571 6TH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARMSTRONG</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>50514</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Purchase Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.03</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John C. Breitung</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----