-----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,
 DUqId87VjxNov2Bd8vIcJoThxGLc74r7rL3IXMa29yeKimkL1vFKkEWWj4Oanop5
 iQcCdWRtcSXrFJfiaLS++g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-031140.txt : 20101217
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-031140.hdr.sgml : 20101217
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101217162943
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-031140
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101217
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101217

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Williams William C
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001476163

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06196
		FILM NUMBER:		101260215

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 33068
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28233

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS CO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000078460
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION [4924]
		IRS NUMBER:				560556998
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4720 PIEDMONT ROW DR
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28210
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7043643120

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P.O. BOX 33068
		CITY:			CHARLOTTE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28233
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000078460</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS CO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PNY</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001476163</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Williams William C</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PIEDMONT NATURAL GAS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 33068</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHARLOTTE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28233</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2148</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.49</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4632.102</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3113</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7745.102</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares issued upon vesting of 2010 LTIP Award under registrant's Incentive Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Retention award granted to all employees who are director-level and above, vesting on December 15, 2013 provided that reporting person is an employee on that date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Judy Z. Mayo by limited power of attorney for William C. Williams</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----