-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 H9iP4Ld5aUapSFt40j2puv1Gwb7jNp3makhgnla1Md77gBxFj4ZOUT20UcgTknU1
 bgDBP56pN9Ve3Tik9YO6/Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000215310-03-000029.txt : 20030528
<SEC-HEADER>0000215310-03-000029.hdr.sgml : 20030528
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030528113019
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000215310-03-000029
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030527
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030528

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DAVIS H TED
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001062095
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08467
		FILM NUMBER:		03720981

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1822 MT CURVE
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55403
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6123772459

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BMC INDUSTRIES INC/MN/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000215310
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COATING, ENGRAVING & ALLIED SERVICES [3470]
		IRS NUMBER:				410169210
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MN
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MERIDIAN CROSSING
		STREET 2:		SUITE 850
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55423
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6128516000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE MERIDIAN CROSSING
		STREET 2:		SUITE 850
		CITY:			MINNEAPOLIS
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55423

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BUCKBEE MEARS CO/MN
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19830517
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-05-27</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000215310</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BMC INDUSTRIES INC/MN/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>bmm</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001062095</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DAVIS H TED</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-05-27</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>1375</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0.8</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>25462.876</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Acquired under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan in payment of one-half of the Director's meeting fees pursuant to the Company's Director Stock Owership Policy.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>H. Ted Davis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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