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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000814453-03-000033.txt : 20030520
<SEC-HEADER>0000814453-03-000033.hdr.sgml : 20030520
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030520092306
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000814453-03-000033
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030516
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030520

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILLETT ELIZABETH CUTHBERT
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001133093

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09608
		FILM NUMBER:		03711413

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 367
		CITY:			NEWCASTLE
		STATE:			WY
		ZIP:			82701

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29 EAST STEPHENSON
		CITY:			FREEPORT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60032

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
</SEC-HEADER>
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<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001133093d20030520f4s1f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
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<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-16</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000814453</issuerCik><issuerName>NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>NWL</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001133093</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>MILLETT ELIZABETH CUTHBERT</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><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transact
ionDate><value>2003-05-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>750</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>140541</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value></value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactio
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actionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>750</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22475</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Custodian - Son</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmo
unts><transactionShares><value>750</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>22475</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Custodian - Daughter</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>L</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>640.115</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><
value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>4443.05</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Cust:Daughter-Div Reinvestment</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>L</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>637.744</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><v
alue>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5080.794</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Cust:Daughter-Div Reinvestment</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Elizabeth C Millett</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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