-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HTvXEX3JaA/DZIMkjLTTXER4v3036MrLaNCFO82hEkDKA5UDAEVMLlqV0MCKHZE6
 bg33p6HEzA3bKMFlq83hcQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000093676-03-000031.txt : 20030910
<SEC-HEADER>0000093676-03-000031.hdr.sgml : 20030910
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030910135141
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000093676-03-000031
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030910
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030910

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			STARRETT L S CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000093676
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CUTLERY, HANDTOOLS & GENERAL HARDWARE [3420]
		IRS NUMBER:				041866480
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 CRESCENT ST
		CITY:			ATHOL
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01331
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5082493551

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ASPIN ANTHONY M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001234645

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00367
		FILM NUMBER:		03889665

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		121 CRESCENT ST
		CITY:			ATHOL
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01331
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9782493551
</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>2003-09-10</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000093676</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>STARRETT L S CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SCX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001234645</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ASPIN ANTHONY M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O THE L S STARRETT COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>121 CRESCENT STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ATHOL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01331</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>V P in Charge of Sales</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>Z</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>459</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>15.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3211</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Diversification of 401(k).</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Anthony M Aspin</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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