-----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,
 QOX23ivXIMfGi8Iouicn1OcvF28LXV+AAj6cFIXqu87WMe89XmKIYB2dmAJl5OTv
 amwss1Kwrevdf60mXfFuSg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001174322-04-000001.txt : 20040223
<SEC-HEADER>0001174322-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040223
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040223105033
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001174322-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040219
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040223

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RUBIN RONALD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001174322

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06300
		FILM NUMBER:		04620975

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TR
		STREET 2:		THE BELLEVUE 200 S BROAD STREET
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000077281
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				236216339
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE BELLEVUE
		STREET 2:		200 S BROAD STREET
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2155429250

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		THE BELLEVUE
		STREET 2:		200 S BROAD STREET
		CITY:			PHILADELPHIA
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19102
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077281</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUST</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PEI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001174322</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RUBIN RONALD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PENNSYLVANIA REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>THE BELLEVUE 200 S BROAD STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PHILADELPHIA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $1.00 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20623</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>132050</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Does not include 7,835 shares held by Mr. Rubin indirectly through a trust of which Mr. Rubin is a trustee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Ronald Rubin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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