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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Sz5fArugbLG8opOAMwc0wzmPNsvO8bPfU3EGHMYmZiM7geiAelHIgTHuCzj2njwc
 XiEOyyX0AMfbBi4zNwnIUA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001252501-10-000002.txt : 20101215
<SEC-HEADER>0001252501-10-000002.hdr.sgml : 20101215
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101215180901
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001252501-10-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101215
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101215

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

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LABER GERALD J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001252501

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-13458
		FILM NUMBER:		101254555

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O APPLIED FILMS CORPORATION
		STREET 2:		9586 I-25 FRONTAGE ROAD
		CITY:			LONGMONT
		STATE:			CO
		ZIP:			80504
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001252501</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LABER GERALD J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4880 HAVANA</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DENVER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80239</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nonqualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.201</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-12-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option vest 1/48 of the shares each month after the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Dennis P. Passantino, Attorney-In-Fact for Gerald J. Laber</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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