-----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,
 BbD7B1LYavg6R2EJ9IQAiLd9d8K+gbCrlWteh43p5jaD01PyopxwGTYSLMREVq1K
 uaJTtm2bBAAPFEmwkoZPRg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000009801-03-000003.txt : 20030728
<SEC-HEADER>0000009801-03-000003.hdr.sgml : 20030728
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030725180511
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000009801-03-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030625
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030728

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BANTA CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000009801
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMERCIAL PRINTING [2750]
		IRS NUMBER:				390148550
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0103

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 MAIN ST
		CITY:			MENASHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			54952
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9207517777

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANTA GEORGE CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19890509

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BANTA GEORGE PUBLISHING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19720505

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HENSELER GERALD A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001235707

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14637
		FILM NUMBER:		03804395

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BANTA CORP
		STREET 2:		225 MAIN ST BOX 8003
		CITY:			MENASHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			549528003
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3207965167

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		225 MAIN ST BOX 8003
		CITY:			MENASHA
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			549528003
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>c0001235707d20030725f4f.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-25</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000009801</issuerCik><issuerName>BANTA CORP</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>BN</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001235707</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>HENSELER GERALD A</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle><otherText></otherText></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><trans
actionDate><value>2003-06-25</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>100</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>32.91</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>27508</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Spouse</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">In addition to these shares of Common Stock, the reporting person beneficially owns 34,036 shares directly; 4,321.73 shares with 
Spouse as Trustee for Daughter and 675 shares by Spouse as Cust. for Daughter.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Gerald A Henseler</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-25</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----