-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 E3BbCgtPKJAAvwT4pv9/jV7c05xeX6clNHbXHoOCiBGUNC/6YWlinM6jl+DbMftv
 pJa2riblVHTvg4vrsC6Yfg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000900520-03-000001.txt : 20030918
<SEC-HEADER>0000900520-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030918161912
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000900520-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030918
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030918

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCOTTS LIQUID GOLD INC EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000900520

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13458
		FILM NUMBER:		03901397

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4880 HAVANA ST
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80239

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4880 HAVANA ST
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80239

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SCOTTS LIQUID GOLD INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000088000
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PERFUMES, COSMETICS & OTHER TOILET PREPARATIONS [2844]
		IRS NUMBER:				840920811
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CO
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		4880 HAVANA ST
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80239
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3033734860

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		PO BOX 39S
		CITY:			DENVER
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80219-0019
</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>2003-09-18</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000088000</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SCOTTS LIQUID GOLD INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>slgd</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000900520</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCOTTS LIQUID GOLD INC EMPLOYEE STOCK OWNERSHIP PLAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4880 HAVANA ST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80239</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>152942</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1034355</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 152,942 shares were contributed by Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc. to the Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Trust without payment.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Scott's Liquid Gold-Inc. Employee Ownership Plan by Jeffry B. Johnson, Trustee</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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