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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-11-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001013544</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERENS FRED</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2400 SW 145 AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIRAMAR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33027</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>46.61</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-11-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2015-11-07</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2022-11-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.01 per value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2900</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2900</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Stock option granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, exercisable in full three years from the date of grant, provided Reporting Person is still serving as a director on such date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Fred Berens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2012-11-07
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001013544
BERENS FRED
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
2400 SW 145 AVENUE
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
1
0
0
0
Stock Option (Right to Buy)
46.61
2012-11-07
4
A
0
2900
0
A
2015-11-07
2022-11-07
Common Stock, $.01 per value
2900
2900
D
Stock option granted pursuant to the Issuer's 2004 Non-Employee Director Stock Option Plan, exercisable in full three years from the date of grant, provided Reporting Person is still serving as a director on such date.
Fred Berens
2012-11-08