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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,
 OwW2gr+IGsPvXAx2ZlmJYjRu+vgsziQglkqYwVLF+45Uw7slS/14/9YInKMBId8V
 41fdwYTwJGI/IU01BvAOcA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000814453-03-000029.txt : 20030512
<SEC-HEADER>0000814453-03-000029.hdr.sgml : 20030512
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030512122034
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000814453-03-000029
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030512

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:			COOLEY JEFFREY E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001128666

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09608
		FILM NUMBER:		03692023

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2463 UNDERHILL RD
		CITY:			TOLEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43615
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8153818122

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2463 UNDERHILL RD
		CITY:			TODEDO
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			43615
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001128666d20030512f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion><documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-08</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000814453</issuerCik>        <issuerName>NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC</issuerName><issuerTradingSymbol>NWL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001128666</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>COOLEY JEFFREY E</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>        </reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>1</isOther><officerTitle></officerTitle><otherText>Group President</otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></repo
rtingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>L</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>787.7879</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>31420.2558</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>401 k</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Option  (Right to Buy)</value></secur
ityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>29.34</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-05-08</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>25000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>29.34</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>2004-05-08</value></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-05-08</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>25000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>25000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwne
rship><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes/><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jeffrey E Cooley</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-12</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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