-----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,
 ScLgcKd8GvhdByJvGmt47bO4CGxgYPEn0hBMXrTg8dQhMTHjq9nYWYkYZRyJSXJG
 5B4k1yZdFLJIG06q8HppEw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001249438-05-000009.txt : 20050912
<SEC-HEADER>0001249438-05-000009.hdr.sgml : 20050912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050912173832
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001249438-05-000009
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4/A
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050908
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050912
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050912

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BELL WILLIAM G
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001254096

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4/A
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11012
		FILM NUMBER:		051080699

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4127953100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		266 ORCHARD STREET
		CITY:			MONROEVILLE
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			15146

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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-08</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2005-09-09</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254096</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BELL WILLIAM G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>266 ORCHARD STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MONROEVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15146</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>2005-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>941</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>21.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1941</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Transaction code changed from an M to a P</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>William G. Bell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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