-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JbZvVpOvTdeiF9m4D5SplezbaUxGqzWXDjqVM0mDq8HT9l9uRhz3pky23gpeQ3Jd
 ibRdeI1+uDKyNMJHgqXabA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001283282-05-000001.txt : 20050401
<SEC-HEADER>0001283282-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050401
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050401175401
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001283282-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050331
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050401
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050401

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KING DAVID S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001283282

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-12497
		FILM NUMBER:		05726936

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		123 TENTH ST SE
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20003
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2025484649

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001016546
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MISCELLANEOUS CHEMICAL PRODUCTS [2890]
		IRS NUMBER:				870372759
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			A6
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		204 EDISON WAY
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			RENO
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89502
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(775) 858-3744

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		204 EDISON WAY
		STREET 2:		N/A
		CITY:			RENO
		STATE:			NV
		ZIP:			89502

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALTAIR INTERNATIONAL INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19970529

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ALTAIR INTERNATIONAL GOLD INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19960611
</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>2005-03-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001016546</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALTAIR NANOTECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALTI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001283282</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KING DAVID S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>123 TENTH STREET SE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20003</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</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>David S. King</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----