-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JqFr3xiI7zapG3YrAdpYNgE/rMTW0uY6rx3UhjUOiouq3vJGQt+8MCp3jgVb+E81
 92NSbLPpC82937tmgaf20A==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895813-04-000003.txt : 20040106
<SEC-HEADER>0000895813-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040106
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040106164339
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895813-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040102
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040106

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:			PARKER ROBERT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001111152

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09608
		FILM NUMBER:		04510686

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		29 E STEPHENSON ST
		CITY:			FREEPORT
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			610232
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8152354171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2006 TAVISTOCK ST
		CITY:			ALPHARETTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30022
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-02</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000814453</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEWELL RUBBERMAID INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NWL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001111152</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PARKER ROBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2006 TAVISTOCK ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALPHARETTA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>GA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>30022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Group President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>25000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>48653.28</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4923.5456</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401(k) Plan Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All restrictions on shares lapse on the third anniversary of the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Dale L. Matschullat, Attorney-in-Fact for Robert S. Parker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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