-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HyWcfjbwWhykmyy9f8JtWiJGaC1uQovOrrjf7b0rUqu3z6mz0Wez6RE6sF9sMIry
 kdNpcD2vFuEXetw6zeV0xg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001288826-10-000032.txt : 20100920
<SEC-HEADER>0001288826-10-000032.hdr.sgml : 20100920
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20100920143724
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001288826-10-000032
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20100918
FILED AS OF DATE:		20100920
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20100920

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			McKewen Darren P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001397312

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-08247
		FILM NUMBER:		101080227

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1231 25TH STREET NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20037

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000015393
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	NEWSPAPERS:  PUBLISHING OR PUBLISHING & PRINTING [2711]
		IRS NUMBER:				530040540
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0212

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 SOUTH BELL STREET
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		703-341-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 SOUTH BELL STREET
		STREET 2:		ROOM 2207
		CITY:			ARLINGTON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			22202
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-18</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000015393</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BUREAU OF NATIONAL AFFAIRS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>none</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001397312</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>McKewen Darren P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1801 S. BELL STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22202</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>788</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10863</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Cynthia J. Bolbach</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-09-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----