<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-11-10</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001003950</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PERFORMANCE TECHNOLOGIES INC \DE\</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PTIX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001040989</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOZEL BERNARD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>205 INDIGO CREEK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ROCHESTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14626</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>2003-11-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>55000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>12.5145</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>359423</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">39,000 shares are owned (indirect ownership by Mr. Kozel) by three family trusts.  Mr. Kozel is Co-Grantor and Co-Trustee of the trusts and the beneficiaries of the trusts are Mr. Kozel's grandchildren.  Mr. Kozel, as Co-Grantor and Co-Trustee, has voting and investment power over the trusts.  131,279 shares are owned (direct ownership by Mr. Kozel) by the Kozel Family, LLC.  Mr. Kozel has 99% interest in, and voting and investment power over this company.  189,144 shares are owned (direct ownership) by the Kozel Holding Company, LLC.  Mr. Kozel has 91.5% interest in, and voting and investment power over this company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>by:/s/Dorrance W. Lamb, as power of attorney, on behalf of Bernard Kozel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-11-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

