-----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,
 GvsAa8LMhxyJ/yhWnAZRgXcdTl4mlRxQYf0PxiPECwNjpcUbmFXCZ4Slbv0rEVOw
 sDdhfhhPTtVNSMEAHtwJvQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001261735-04-000004.txt : 20040128
<SEC-HEADER>0001261735-04-000004.hdr.sgml : 20040128
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040128160728
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001261735-04-000004
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040128

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KLING WILLIAM H
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206297

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10898
		FILM NUMBER:		04549353

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		385 WASHINGTON ST
		CITY:			ST PAUL
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55102

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
</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>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206297</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KLING WILLIAM H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>385 WASHINGTON ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ST PAUL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55102</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6606.79</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>39.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>6606.79</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7177.58</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Deferred Compensation Phantom Stock is converted on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These are phantom shares acquired under the Company's Director's Deferred Compensation Plan.  Allowed distributions must be received by the Reporting Person in cash according to an election previously made by the Reporting Person, approved by the Company's Compensation Committee, and kept on file by the Company.  Acquisitions are exempt under Rule 16b-3(d).  The particular distribution elections which caused this phantom share disposition transaction to occur were made by the reporting person in 1994, 1995, 1996 and 1997.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Bruce A. Backberg, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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