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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HW9a+RGbPPf+M75XFyWk20SJ/eOlYtEV7NMR38SW7cJtqW7JUam2mrYvSXCnXmh9
 lKevHlSIf6l8Afd5L3kTQQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001239275-03-000007.txt : 20030829
<SEC-HEADER>0001239275-03-000007.hdr.sgml : 20030829
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030829125211
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001239275-03-000007
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030807
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030829

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ST PAUL COMPANIES INC /MN/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000086312
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE [6331]
		IRS NUMBER:				410518860
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

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

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

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

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	SAINT PAUL COMPANIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19900730

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZURAITIS MARITA
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001198960
		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:	001-10898
		FILM NUMBER:		03873329

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		385 WASHINGTON ST
		CITY:			SAINT PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102
		BUSINESS PHONE:		410 205 5378
</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>2003-08-07</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000086312</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ST PAUL COMPANIES INC /MN/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SPC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001198960</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZURAITIS MARITA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>385 WASHINGTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST. PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President, USIO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-08-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>681</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>42.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>24254</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Company's 1994 Stock Incentive Plan permits the withholding of shares of common stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations of the participants.  These shares are not sold on the open market but are retired.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">In addition to these direct holdings, the Reporting Person also indirectly owns 681.25 shares of the Issuer's common stock under an employee benefit plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce A. Backberg, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-29</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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