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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-03-03</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2005-03-07</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001144945</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENN VIRGINIA RESOURCE PARTNERS L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>pvr</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001044277</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HORTON KEITH D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>PENN VIRGINIA OPERATING CO., LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2550 E. STONE DR., SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>KINGSPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>37660</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4451</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22751</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Unit</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On March 7, 2005 the reporting person mistakenly reported the acquisition of 4,006 common units on March 3, 2005.  The correct number of common units acquired on March 3, 2005 is 4,451.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Restricted units granted to the reporting person by Penn Virginia Resource GP, LLC (the &quot;Company&quot;) general partner of Issuer, pursuant to the Company's Amended and Restated Long Term incentive Plan.  The restricted units vest in three equal annual installments on March 3, 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nancy M. Snyder as power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-03-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
