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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 MWIvSNntUdxKc3pXC8cjERFP0CCe8XSaV1LzoB4Rh/sn2xpo9MBujrWUhjFnRRxw
 zHSxlvA2xGpFTs+nxHZP4g==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-028705.txt : 20101122
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-028705.hdr.sgml : 20101122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101122205227
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-028705
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101118
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101122
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101122

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Helfand Jeremy
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001366223

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-33367
		FILM NUMBER:		101210089

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21301 BURBANK BOULEVARD
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			UNITED ONLINE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001142701
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC. [7370]
		IRS NUMBER:				770575839
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21301 BURBANK BOULEVARD
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
		BUSINESS PHONE:		818-287-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		21301 BURBANK BOULEVARD
		CITY:			WOODLAND HILLS
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			91367
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-11-18</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001142701</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>UNITED ONLINE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>UNTD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001366223</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Helfand Jeremy</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>21301 BURBANK BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODLAND HILLS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91367</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Pres., United Online Media Grp</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.551</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>120632</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted average sale price per share.  The actual sales prices ranged from a low of $6.55 to a high of $6.575.  The Reporting Person will provide upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Issuer or any security holder of the Issuer full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 16,667 shares subject to a restricted stock unit award granted on February 15, 2008 that will be issued as those units vest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 50,000 shares subject to a restricted stock unit award granted on February 15, 2010 that will be issued as those units vest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Jeremy Helfand</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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