<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-10-31</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2012-11-05</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000313927</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHURCH &amp; DWIGHT CO INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CHD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001031149</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CONISH MARK G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>469 NORTH HARRISON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PRINCETON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08543</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP Global Operations</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-10-31</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>32.2875</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>50.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>1988-08-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>32.2875</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30832.7366</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The phantom stock shares convert to common stock on a 1-for-1 basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This amendment to a Form 4 originally filed on November 5, 2012 is being filed in reliance on Securities Exchange Commission Release No. 68224, dated November 14, 2012, granting exemptions from the deadline for filings required under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for registrants affected by Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath.  Mr. Conish was unable to file the original Form 4 when due because the Company experienced an outage of its computer systems as a result of Hurricane Sandy and was unable to timely process phantom share purchase information following its October 31, 2012 payroll.  Accordingly, the original Form 4 could not be filed until one business day following the due date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The phantom stock shares were acquired under the Church &amp; Dwight Co., Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan and are to be settled in cash at such time as prescribed by the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Karen M. Sheehan, attorney-in-fact for Mark G. Conish</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-12-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
