-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
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,
 TIky+qitaqWR+l9FeGKqS9mg7vv9sQLZiHPvQ7v/hlcZDNwagnNehwBqztO+rcV7
 ue1U8zvLBHta5JBy20K6Yw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000082811-04-000021.txt : 20040413
<SEC-HEADER>0000082811-04-000021.hdr.sgml : 20040413
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040413164055
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000082811-04-000021
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040412
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040413

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REGAL BELOIT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000082811
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTORS & GENERATORS [3621]
		IRS NUMBER:				390875718
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 STATE ST
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6083648800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 STATE STREET
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511-6254

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BELOIT TOOL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730522

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RECORD A PUNCH CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19690320

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLEMAN J REED
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001210931

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07283
		FILM NUMBER:		04730871

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 STATE STREET
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6083648800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 STATE STREET
		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>2004-04-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000082811</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REGAL BELOIT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210931</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COLEMAN J REED</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>201 WAUBESA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MADISON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53704</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1066</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.125</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>66058</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Reed Coleman by Kenneth F. Kaplan POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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