-----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,
 LUzjM1hEMrQGG8GSOaYMQ/9MQf27EfIepQJgqLC0sHNX2JkgJKle2sGis8SM7k36
 0uZDQPvDeMlmNlqlqJc50Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001247151-03-000001.txt : 20030908
<SEC-HEADER>0001247151-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030908
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030908181019
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001247151-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030904
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030908

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			TRAVATELLO ROBERT S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001247151

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14133
		FILM NUMBER:		03886772

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BLUE RHINO CORP
		STREET 2:		104 CAMBRIDGE PLAZA DRIVE
		CITY:			WINSTON SALEM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3366596988

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BLUE RHINO CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001034379
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-RETAIL STORES, NEC [5990]
		IRS NUMBER:				561870472
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0731

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		104 CAMBRIDGE PLAZA DRIVE
		CITY:			WINSTON SALEM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27104
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3366596900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		104 CAMBRIDGE PLAZA DRIVE
		CITY:			WINSTON-SALEM
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27104
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-04</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001034379</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BLUE RHINO CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RINO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001247151</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TRAVATELLO ROBERT S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>104 CAMBRIDGE PLAZA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WINSTON-SALEM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27104</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Information Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.59</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21375</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-09-04</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-09-04</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>21375</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21375</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lori Hall as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert S. Travatello</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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