<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-29</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000103379</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>V F CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>vfc</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001234996</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DE BEDOUT JUAN ERNESTO</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>105 CORPORATE CENTER BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENSBORO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27408</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>368.1627</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>368.1627</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3219.0965</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents phantom stock units (&quot;PSU'S&quot;) under the VF Corporation Directors' Deferred Savings Plan, to be settled 100% in cash upon the reporting person's retirement. PSU's are acquired based on a fund in which a trustee invests contributions in shares of VF Corporation Common Stock in the open market. The number of PSU's owned may vary over time due to reinvestment by the trustee of dividends, the holding of a portion of the fund's assets in cash rather than shares, and changes in the proportionate interest in the fund of other participants. The reporting person receives quarterly statements regarding the fund. Accordingly, information regarding the number of PSUs acquired at the reporting date and beneficially owned as a result of that transaction is estimated based on the amount of the reporting person's cash deferrals under the Plan and the closing price of the shares on the date of the deferral.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Column 2 should have an entry that reads &quot;1 for 1&quot;.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">There is no date that should appear in these columns. These columns are not applicable to this particular filing.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Each PSU was acquired at the election of the Director by deferring $42.78 (estimated) of fees per PSU.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark R. Townsend for Juan Ernesto de Bedout (Pursuant to Signing Authority of File).</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>
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X0201
4
2003-12-29
0
0000103379
V F CORP
vfc
0001234996
DE BEDOUT JUAN ERNESTO
105 CORPORATE CENTER BOULEVARD
GREENSBORO
NC
27408
1
0
0
0
Phantom Stock
2003-12-29
4
A
0
368.1627
A
Common Stock
368.1627
3219.0965
D
Represents phantom stock units ("PSU'S") under the VF Corporation Directors' Deferred Savings Plan, to be settled 100% in cash upon the reporting person's retirement. PSU's are acquired based on a fund in which a trustee invests contributions in shares of VF Corporation Common Stock in the open market. The number of PSU's owned may vary over time due to reinvestment by the trustee of dividends, the holding of a portion of the fund's assets in cash rather than shares, and changes in the proportionate interest in the fund of other participants. The reporting person receives quarterly statements regarding the fund. Accordingly, information regarding the number of PSUs acquired at the reporting date and beneficially owned as a result of that transaction is estimated based on the amount of the reporting person's cash deferrals under the Plan and the closing price of the shares on the date of the deferral.
Column 2 should have an entry that reads "1 for 1".
There is no date that should appear in these columns. These columns are not applicable to this particular filing.
Each PSU was acquired at the election of the Director by deferring $42.78 (estimated) of fees per PSU.
Mark R. Townsend for Juan Ernesto de Bedout (Pursuant to Signing Authority of File).
2003-12-31