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

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-04-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000098618</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>un$cza4v</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001194268</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HECKER JAMES T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7950 E. ACOMA DRIVE, SUITE 111</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85260</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>H</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37750</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2001-08-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-08-01</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>37750</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock Options</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2012-06-30</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-04-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Date Exercisable reflects the earliest exercisable date for all 37,750 options which dates range from 8/1/2001-7/13/2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Expiration Date reflects the earliest expiration date for all 37,750 options which dates range from 8/1/2012-9/13/2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Date Exercisable reflects the earliest exercisable date for all 75,000 options which dates range from 6/30/2012-6/30/2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>James T. Hecker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-04-13</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0305
4
2012-04-11
0
0000098618
ALANCO TECHNOLOGIES INC
un$cza4v
0001194268
HECKER JAMES T
7950 E. ACOMA DRIVE, SUITE 111
SCOTTSDALE
AZ
85260
1
0
0
0
Class A Common Stock Options
1.5
2012-04-11
4
H
0
37750
1.5
D
2001-08-01
2012-08-01
Class A Common Stock
37750
1250
D
Class A Common Stock Options
0.75
2012-04-11
4
A
0
75000
0.75
A
2012-06-30
2017-04-11
Class A Common Stock
75000
76250
D
The Date Exercisable reflects the earliest exercisable date for all 37,750 options which dates range from 8/1/2001-7/13/2009.
The Expiration Date reflects the earliest expiration date for all 37,750 options which dates range from 8/1/2012-9/13/2015.
The Date Exercisable reflects the earliest exercisable date for all 75,000 options which dates range from 6/30/2012-6/30/2013.
James T. Hecker
2012-04-13