-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 LGD7EQbNPWOU5hFJkOyu/If6dUY1eyC3+x1uIxsPbKNguPcwsm1gJNFXeCO2mYZU
 LssaKtknSWiRq41ay7MA1g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000840467-07-000172.txt : 20070824
<SEC-HEADER>0000840467-07-000172.hdr.sgml : 20070824
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070824194146
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000840467-07-000172
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070823
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070824
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070824

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BECKMAN COULTER INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000840467
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY ANALYTICAL INSTRUMENTS [3826]
		IRS NUMBER:				951040600
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 N HARBOR BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 3100
		CITY:			FULLERTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92834-3100
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7147736907

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4300 N HARBOR BLVD
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 3100
		CITY:			FULLERTON
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92834-3100

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BECKMAN INSTRUMENTS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WOODS BETTY
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001216698

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10109
		FILM NUMBER:		071079398

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PACIFIC NORTHWEST BANCORP
		STREET 2:		1111 THIRD AVE STE 250
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101-0840
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2066249761

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PACIFIC NORTHWEST BANCORP
		STREET 2:		1111 THIRD AVE STE 250
		CITY:			SEATTLE
		STATE:			WA
		ZIP:			98101-0084
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-08-23</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000840467</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BECKMAN COULTER INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BEC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216698</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOODS BETTY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PACIFIC NORTHWEST BANCORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1111 THIRD AVE STE 250</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SEATTLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>98101-0084</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>2007-08-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>552</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>70.8726</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21168.83</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Jack E. Sorokin by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-08-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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