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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000921500</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS INC /TX/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cgx</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001033356</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAVIS JOE R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5858 WESTHEIMER SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77057</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1554800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option to purchase common stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>41.51</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>41.51</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-07-25</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-07-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>750000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">10,000 options become exercisable on each of July 25, 2005, July 25, 2006, July 25, 2007, July 25, 2008 and July 25, 2009 or upon the earlier of Mr. Davis' death or a Change in Control event, as set forth in the underlying stock option agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Exceptions to stated expiration date are termination of Mr. Davis' employment or his death, pursuant to which an earlier expiration date would apply in accordance with the terms of the underlying stock option agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">250,000 at $53.25 as previously reported; 300,000 at $11.4375 as previously reported; 50,000 at $19.10 as previously reported; 50,000 at $14.75 as previously reported; 50,000 at $23.00 as previously reported; and 50,000 at $41.51 being reported herewith.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Joe R. Davis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

