-----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,
 Qdwn0HPUiAvEAz0WyPtVOHbuJH6sQqzqND2dEW1sR9+nXQbJGJabpM+7/sh7UrGE
 niJf1CCKhnrGjZw+MLOqag==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001231213-05-000004.txt : 20050616
<SEC-HEADER>0001231213-05-000004.hdr.sgml : 20050615
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050616131010
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001231213-05-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050614
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050616
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050616

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PETTY W T TERRY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001285583

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08929
		FILM NUMBER:		05899670

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		160 PACIFIC AVENUE STE 222
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ABM INDUSTRIES INC /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000771497
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-TO DWELLINGS & OTHER BUILDINGS [7340]
		IRS NUMBER:				941369354
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		160 PACIFIC AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 222
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4157334000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		160 PACIFIC AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 222
		CITY:			SAN FRANCISCO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			94111

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ABM INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950110

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMERICAN BUILDING MAINTENANCE INDUSTRIES INC
		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>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-06-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000771497</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ABM INDUSTRIES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ABM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001285583</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PETTY W T TERRY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>160 PACIFIC AVENUE STE 222</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN FRANCISCO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94111</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec.VP &amp; Chief Operating Ofcr</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>18.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-06-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-06-14</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option grant under 2002 Price-Vested Performance Stock Option Plan</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Price-Vested Performance Stock Options which vest over the first four years at a rate tied to the price of ABM Common Stock, 50% at $23.00 and 50% at $26.00, and after eight years from the date of grant if not previously vested</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>s/  W T Terry Petty</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-06-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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