-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 /sSRyHs33EKZ/O1tGc+s6Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001191512-03-000024.txt : 20031216
<SEC-HEADER>0001191512-03-000024.hdr.sgml : 20031216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031216141114
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001191512-03-000024
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031215
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031216

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			AMERICAN STANDARD COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000836102
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR COND & WARM AIR HEATING EQUIP & COMM & INDL REFRIG EQUIP [3585]
		IRS NUMBER:				133465896
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CENTENNIAL AVENUE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 6820
		CITY:			PISCATAWAY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08855-6820
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7329806000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CENTENNIAL AVENUE
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 6820
		CITY:			PISCATAWAY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08855-6820

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ASI HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19941114

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HAGENLOCKER EDWARD E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191512

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11415
		FILM NUMBER:		031056992

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		39400 WOODWARD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 165
		CITY:			BLOOMFIELD HILLS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48304
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2485936934

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		39400 WOODWARD AVENUE
		STREET 2:		SUITE 165
		CITY:			BLOOMFIELD HILLS
		STATE:			MI
		ZIP:			48304
</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>2003-12-15</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000836102</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN STANDARD COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ASD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191512</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAGENLOCKER EDWARD E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>39400 WOODWARD AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 165</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BLOOMFIELD HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>48304</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, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37.909</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>98.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>396.057</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>DCP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3269</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represesnts one-half of the fourth quarter Board of Directors' fee paid on December 15, 2003, receipt of which Director elected to defer pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan, and which shares are allocated to Mr. Hagenlocker's Stock Account under the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Edward E. Hagenlocker (by M. Cresitello by Power of Attorney)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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