-----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,
 AIaiJhkThV80o7+df38vDARNiqRSHgwn5EVoq64C4/xzHWL5agWkIu0biV0TTAFK
 KfLPezQUqjAi7HUznKOOpw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000884413-05-000009.txt : 20050915
<SEC-HEADER>0000884413-05-000009.hdr.sgml : 20050915
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050915174951
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000884413-05-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050909
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050915
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050915

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLACIER WATER SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000883505
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-NONSTORE RETAILERS [5960]
		IRS NUMBER:				330493559
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1226

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1385 PARK CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			VISTA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92081-8338
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7605601111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1385 PARK CENTER DRIVE
		CITY:			VISTA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92081-8338

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAYNE ANDERSON CAPITAL ADVISORS LP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000949615
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			CA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11012
		FILM NUMBER:		051087443

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 AVE OF THE STARS
		STREET 2:		SECOND FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3105562721

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 AVENUE OF THE STARS
		STREET 2:		2ND FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KAIM NON TRADITIONAL L P/CA
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960605

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAYNE RICHARD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000884413

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11012
		FILM NUMBER:		051087444

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 AVENUE OF THE STARS
		STREET 2:		SECOND FLOOR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3105562721
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-09</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000883505</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GLACIER WATER SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>hoo</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000884413</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAYNE RICHARD A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1800 AVENUE OF THE STARS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SECOND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000949615</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAYNE ANDERSON CAPITAL ADVISORS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1800 AVENUE OF THE STARS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90067</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>2005-09-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>760342</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10958</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Various</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Indirect pecuniary interest through interests in limied partnerships.

Both reporting persons have indirect control of additional shares held by such limited partnerships and other managed investment accounts, but they do not have any pecuniary interest, direct or indirect in such shares and accordingly they are not reported here.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard A. Kayne</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----