<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000098618</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>alan</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001368614</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Robinson Thomas A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>408 THE AMERICAN ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MORRIS PLAINS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07950</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP-Wholly Owned Subsidiary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2011-01-20</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>749</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.45</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>190919</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Class A Common Stock issued for Series D Preferred Dividends at a rate of $1.45 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Thomas A. Robinson</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0303
4
2011-01-20
0
0000098618
ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES INC
alan
0001368614
Robinson Thomas A
408 THE AMERICAN ROAD
MORRIS PLAINS
NJ
07950
0
1
0
0
VP-Wholly Owned Subsidiary
Class A Common Stock
2011-01-20
2011-01-20
4
J
0
749
1.45
A
190919
D
Class A Common Stock issued for Series D Preferred Dividends at a rate of $1.45 per share.
Thomas A. Robinson
2011-01-20