-----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,
 WqkgOkpRxzFt3jEydcelIM4KbuO5XqBgwTiy0cJ94hnJFNgcUIf5LXgq0fhb7R5M
 /ckReHu0mbX0KqFu2WQNlg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001198929-04-000019.txt : 20040701
<SEC-HEADER>0001198929-04-000019.hdr.sgml : 20040701
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040701133359
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001198929-04-000019
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040630
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ST PAUL TRAVELERS COMPANIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000086312
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31341
		FILM NUMBER:		04894267

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		385 WASHINGTON ST
		CITY:			SAINT PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6123107911

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ST PAUL FIRE & MARINE INSURANCE CO/MD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990219

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ST PAUL COMPANIES INC/MN/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19990219

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ST PAUL COMPANIES INC /MN/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PLATINUM UNDERWRITERS HOLDINGS LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001171500
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				000000000
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			D0
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2 CHURCH STREET
		CITY:			BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HM 11
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412951422

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		69 PITTS BAY ROAD
		STREET 2:		2ND FLOOR, PEMBROKE
		CITY:			BERMUDA
		STATE:			D0
		ZIP:			HM 08
</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>2004-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001171500</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PLATINUM UNDERWRITERS HOLDINGS LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000086312</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ST PAUL TRAVELERS COMPANIES INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>385 WASHINGTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55102-1396</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6000000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>29.555</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This figure does not include Reporting Person's options to purchase 5,105,740 and 894,260 shares of the Issuer's common stock from its wholly owned subsidiaries, St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company and St. Paul Reinsurance Company, respectively.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">By St. Paul Fire and Marine Insurance Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Reporting Person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Bruce A. Backberg, Corporate Secretary, on behalf of The St. Paul Travelers Companies, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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