-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Wp/V3zcliXg0D/go1jAUZFcBVayvYOc4Xa73Cd/vIrotckYDJEBWqMSoREhAZqi5
 VFd77dXvTrL3hr0Jas9Imw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000929638-05-000272.txt : 20051216
<SEC-HEADER>0000929638-05-000272.hdr.sgml : 20051216
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20051216154837
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000929638-05-000272
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20051214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20051216
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20051216

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Hunter Alan D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001347130

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05103
		FILM NUMBER:		051269736

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(403) 234-9800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		850, 440 2ND AVENUE, SW
		CITY:			CALGARY
		STATE:			A0
		ZIP:			T2P 5E9

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BARNWELL INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000010048
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	CRUDE PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS [1311]
		IRS NUMBER:				720496921
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1100 ALAKEA ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2900
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96813
		BUSINESS PHONE:		808-531-8400

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1100 ALAKEA ST.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2900
		CITY:			HONOLULU
		STATE:			HI
		ZIP:			96813

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BMA CORP/TN
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19770324

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BARNWELL OFFSHORE INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19671101
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-12-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000010048</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BARNWELL INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BRN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001347130</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hunter Alan D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>850, 440 2ND AVENUE, SW</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CALGARY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>T2P 5E9</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>ALBERTA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>22.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3200</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alan D. Hunter</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-12-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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