-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001210409-04-000001.txt : 20040205
<SEC-HEADER>0001210409-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040205
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040205191128
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001210409-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040204
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040205

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:			GOLDSTONE STEVEN F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001210409

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11415
		FILM NUMBER:		04571311

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AMERICAN STANDARD CO INC
		STREET 2:		ONE CENTENNIAL AVENUE
		CITY:			PISCATAWAY
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08855
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6464975940
</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>2004-02-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210409</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GOLDSTONE STEVEN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN STANDARD COMPANIES INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CENTENNIAL AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PISCATAWAY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08855</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>2004-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28.55</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>105.08</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>611.55</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>DCP</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9.488</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>105.4</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>621.038</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>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2002.3</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to Purchase Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>105.08</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-02-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-02-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 pr value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3600</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3600</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents Committee meeting fees paid on 2/4/2004, receipt of which Director elected to defer pursuant to Deferred Compensation Plan, and which shares are allocated to Mr. Goldstone's Stock Account under this Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents Board meeting fees paid on 2/5/2004, receipt of which Director elected to defer pursuant to Deferred Compensation Plan, and which shares are allocated to Mr. Goldstone's Stock Account under this Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Option exercisable in 3 equal installments, commencing Feb 4, 2005.  Stock option granted under a plan in an exempted transaction pursuant to Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Issued in connection with service as a director.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Steven F. Goldstone (by M. Cresitello by Power of Attorney)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----