-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UpvjJhu2qBHEEGYUf6DAkuR2wgszNc1Cgj2yAKwV/hJyjpd2sThlM1KZzeA520xo
 6bZYUx4pgmLffgC6ycXjIw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001182778-04-000014.txt : 20040907
<SEC-HEADER>0001182778-04-000014.hdr.sgml : 20040906
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040907164501
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001182778-04-000014
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040907
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040907
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20040907

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			XL CAPITAL LTD
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000875159
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SURETY INSURANCE [6351]
		IRS NUMBER:				980191089
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		XL HOUSE
		STREET 2:		ONE BERMUDIANA ROAD
		CITY:			HAMILTON HM11 BERMUD
		STATE:			D2
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412928515

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		CAHILL GORDON & REINDEL(IMMANUEL KOHN)
		STREET 2:		80 PINE STREET
		CITY:			NEW YORKI
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10005

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	EXEL LTD
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19950720

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			OHARA BRIAN M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182778

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10804
		FILM NUMBER:		041018988

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O XL CAPITAL LTD
		STREET 2:		XL HOUSE, ONE BERMUDIANA ROAD
		CITY:			HAILTON BERMUDA
		STATE:			B9
		ZIP:			HMJX
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4412947100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O XL CAPITAL LTD HOUSE
		STREET 2:		ONE BERMUDIANA ROAD
		CITY:			HAMILTON BERMUDA
		STATE:			B9
		ZIP:			00000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-09-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875159</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>XL CAPITAL LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182778</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>OHARA BRIAN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O XL CAPITAL LTD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>XL HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAMILTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>HM 01</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-09-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>508.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>379927.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Fox, Attorney-in-fact for Brian M. O'Hara</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-09-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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