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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,
 GaswlvA+dns8c4Fyscu5f47tKoGwNYDWeZz7u7uCNF8OvGfsBxKPZKeU9T/M9qZC
 8+NVQwsObPdSXrlL17D0RA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000814453-03-000023.txt : 20030509
<SEC-HEADER>0000814453-03-000023.hdr.sgml : 20030509
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030509170910
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000814453-03-000023
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030507
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030509

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000814453
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PLASTICS PRODUCTS, NEC [3089]
		IRS NUMBER:				363514169
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29 E STEPHENSON ST
		STREET 2:		NEWELL CTR
		CITY:			FREEPORT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61032
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8152354171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29 E STEPHENSON ST
		STREET 2:		NEWELL CTR
		CITY:			FREEPORT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61032

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NEWELL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	NEW NEWELL CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19870713

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SULLIVAN GORDON R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001111141

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09608
		FILM NUMBER:		03690988

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29 E. STEPHENSON ST
		CITY:			FREEPORT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			61032
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8152354171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2425 WILSON BLVD
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			02220
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001111141d20030509f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-07</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000814453</issuerCik>        <issuerName>NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>NWL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001111141</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>SULLIVAN GORDON R</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><no
nDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1"/></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1000</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>29.39</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2511</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option  (Right to Bu
y)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.39</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-07</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>4000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>29.39</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-07</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-07</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>4000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ow
nershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Common Stock was awarded under 2003 Stock Plan, subject to restrictions that will lapse on May 7, 2006, unless earlier forfeited.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Restricted Shares</footnote><footnote id="F3">Options become exercisable in annual installments of 20% of the number of options granted.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Ret. GEN Gordon R Sullivan</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-09</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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