-----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,
 WbXWFKZdvbbJ6I7TvjI26IBsA68Orovrwe6hg5MCJYqW6wBW+HYfXEyyq60ckiOP
 TNkW/a6J7ORW26MFXbmxAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188341-04-000003.txt : 20040129
<SEC-HEADER>0001188341-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040129
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040129154227
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188341-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031210
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040129

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KEELING HENRY CHARLES VAUGHAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001182863

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10804
		FILM NUMBER:		04552419

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O XL RE LTD
		STREET 2:		NEW LONDON HOUSE 6 LONDON ST
		CITY:			LONDON ENGLAND
		STATE:			X0
		ZIP:			EC3R 7LP
		BUSINESS PHONE:		442078689800

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182863</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KEELING HENRY CHARLES VAUGHAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O XL RE LTD,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NEW LONDON HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>EC3R 7LP</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000.00</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>72.828</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>87112.00</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>The Henry Keeling Vol. Sett.</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected purusant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on June 4,
 2003</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Sarah Fox, attorney-in-fact for Henry Keeling</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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