<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-07-01</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000041077</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GEORGIA PACIFIC CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001019424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>IVESTER M DOUGLAS</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Phantom Stock Units - GP</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-01</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>600.641</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>18.73</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>1988-08-08</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Georgia-Pacific Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>600.641</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>21453.777</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Phantom stock units convert into common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The phantom stock units were acquired under the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Directors Deferred Compensation Plan, and will be settled in cash upon the reporting person's retirement.  Payments will be made on a date or dates certain, based on the reporting person's irrevocable election to receive either a single cash payment or a specified number of annual installments.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 186.056 phantom stock units acquired pursuant to a dividend reinvestment feature of the Georgia-Pacific Corporation Directors Deferred Compensation Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Joanna B. Apolinsky, as Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

