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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-08-12</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000095052</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ELIZABETH ARDEN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RDEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482401</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PIRARD PIERRE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>880 S.W. 145 AVENUE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PEMBROKE PINES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Gbl Supply Chn &amp; Tech Svs</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-08-12</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8174</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.91</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>109339</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of service-based restricted stock units granted on August 12, 2013, August 21, 2014, and August 10, 2015.  The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 12, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 53,501 service-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Pierre B. Pirard</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-08-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2016-08-12
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001482401
PIRARD PIERRE
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
880 S.W. 145 AVENUE, SUITE 200
PEMBROKE PINES
FL
33027
0
1
0
0
EVP, Gbl Supply Chn & Tech Svs
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2016-08-12
4
F
0
8174
13.91
D
109339
D
Represents shares withheld by the Issuer in satisfaction of tax withholding obligations arising from the vesting of service-based restricted stock units granted on August 12, 2013, August 21, 2014, and August 10, 2015.  The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 12, 2016.
Includes 53,501 service-based restricted stock units.
Pierre B. Pirard
2016-08-16