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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-12-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001203097</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHIRLEY EDWARD D</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>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-12-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4705</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.52</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10405</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Grant of Restricted Stock Units issued pursuant to the Issuer's 2014 Non-Employee Director Stock Award Plan upon the Reporting Person's election to the Issuer's Board of Directors by the Issuer's shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders held on December 2, 2015.  This grant will vest in full three years from the date of grant provided Reporting Person is still serving as a director on such date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares issued pursuant to the Issuer's 2014 Non-Employee Director Stock Award Plan in lieu of a cash payment of the annual director retainer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Edward D. Shirley</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-12-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2015-12-02
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001203097
SHIRLEY EDWARD D
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
2400 SW 145 AVENUE
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
1
0
0
0
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-12-02
4
A
0
5700
0
A
5700
D
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2015-12-02
4
A
0
4705
10.52
A
10405
D
Grant of Restricted Stock Units issued pursuant to the Issuer's 2014 Non-Employee Director Stock Award Plan upon the Reporting Person's election to the Issuer's Board of Directors by the Issuer's shareholders at the annual meeting of shareholders held on December 2, 2015.  This grant will vest in full three years from the date of grant provided Reporting Person is still serving as a director on such date.
Shares issued pursuant to the Issuer's 2014 Non-Employee Director Stock Award Plan in lieu of a cash payment of the annual director retainer.
Edward D. Shirley
2015-12-03