-----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,
 HDDI7nmNb3nFH+sJh9M+EGnf2QnYtPq0mpMBb9Wba041vBFqr7M7Qn9tOKAtN134
 h+qUmypqV1FCoXyoQJJhYA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001188625-03-000005.txt : 20031024
<SEC-HEADER>0001188625-03-000005.hdr.sgml : 20031024
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20031024182639
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001188625-03-000005
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031024
FILED AS OF DATE:		20031024

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SINNOTT ROBERT V
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001188625

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11012
		FILM NUMBER:		03957262

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1800 AVE OF THE STATE
		STREET 2:		2ND FLR
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067

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:		2651 LA MIRADA DRIVE, SUITE 100
		CITY:			VISTA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92083-8435
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7605601111

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2651 LA MIRADA DRIVE, SUITE 100
		CITY:			VISTA
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92083-8435
</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>2003-10-24</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188625</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SINNOTT ROBERT V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1800 AVE OF THE STARS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2ND FLR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>19.9</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45215</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-10-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44715</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were sold in a private transaction.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert V. Sinnott</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-10-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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