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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-02-10</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000105608</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WELLS GARDNER ELECTRONICS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WGA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001330693</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BRACE JAMES F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>9500 W. 55TH STREET, SUITE A</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MCCOOK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60525</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, CFO, Treasurer and Sec.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Par Value $1.00</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-02-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>36750</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Prior to the transaction reported in this Form 4, Mr. Brace reported beneficial ownership of 30,000 shares, comprised of 22,000 shares owned and 8,000 restricted stock awards. The number of securities beneficially owned by Mr. Brace following this reported transaction reflects the additional shares Mr. Brace received from WGA's 5% stock dividend on March 30, 2006. Following the transactions reported on this Form 4, Mr. Brace has beneficial ownership of 36,750 shares, comprised of 23,100 shares owned and 13,650 restricted shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares vest at 40%, or 2,000 on February 10, 2008 and 60%, or 3,000 on February 10, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James F. Brace</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-04-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
