-----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,
 F9FosmdudavP1UypMoGa3yGUqOymny1kWjOwCANGH3R0fw/VjY8hWPR8j/upi1qS
 7CknNkx3otIoRqNlY+k/Pg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000794170-03-000001.txt : 20030618
<SEC-HEADER>0000794170-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030618
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030618144220
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000794170-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030617
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030618

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOLL BROTHERS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000794170
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	OPERATIVE BUILDERS [1531]
		IRS NUMBER:				232416878
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1031

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3103 PHILMONT AVE
		CITY:			HUNTINGDON VALLEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2159388000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3103 PHILMONT AVENUE
		CITY:			HUNTINGDON VALLEY
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19006

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TOLL ROBERT I
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000922997

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09186
		FILM NUMBER:		03748647

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3103 PHILMONT AVENUE
		CITY:			HUNTINGDON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19006
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2159388044

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3103 PHILMONT AVENUE
		CITY:			HUNTINGDON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19006
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-17</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000794170</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>TOLL BROTHERS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>tol</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000922997</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TOLL ROBERT I</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-17</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>100000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>31.3993</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>5534755</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>I</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            <natureOfOwnership>
                <value>Entities are wholly-owned by reporting person</value>
            </natureOfOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting person also owns 5,127,665 shares directly and an additional 1,132 shares indirectly through his 401(K) plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathyrn G. Flanagan, Att'y in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-06-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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