-----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,
 Dklt8lRsiw2zdKcb2LI9PWoCQet9VFoRBle87NyfpsX0kn/xhQHZ06JjKAmmPZXn
 E5DPqqABwXCtvvD+P6hoFA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000895813-04-000005.txt : 20040109
<SEC-HEADER>0000895813-04-000005.hdr.sgml : 20040109
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040109153553
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000895813-04-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040108
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040109

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:			GALLI JOSEPH JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001133259

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-09608
		FILM NUMBER:		04517886

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MILLINGTON RD
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8152354171

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MILLINGTON RD
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511
</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>2004-01-08</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133259</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GALLI JOSEPH JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>13901 MANTUA MILL ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GLYNDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MD</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>21071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.32</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options become exercisable in annual installments of 20% of the number of options granted.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Dale L. Matschullat, Attorney-in-Fact for Joseph Galli Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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