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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-08-21</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001482594</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WIDMER KATHY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2400 S.W. 145 AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIRAMAR</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 &amp; CMO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.01 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-08-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2121</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>17.26</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14306</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 15, 2011, August 13, 2012, and August 12, 2013. The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 21, 2014.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 5,733 service-based restricted stock units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kathy Widmer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-08-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
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X0306
4
2014-08-21
0
0000095052
ELIZABETH ARDEN INC
RDEN
0001482594
WIDMER KATHY
C/O ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC.
2400 S.W. 145 AVENUE
MIRAMAR
FL
33027
0
1
0
0
EVP & CMO
Common Stock, $.01 par value
2014-08-21
4
F
0
2121
17.26
D
14306
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 15, 2011, August 13, 2012, and August 12, 2013. The price reflected is the closing market price of the Issuer's Common Stock on the vesting date, August 21, 2014.
Includes 5,733 service-based restricted stock units.
Kathy Widmer
2014-08-25