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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-04-05</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001067983</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BRK.A</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001133224</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CHACE MALCOLM G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE PROVIDENCE WASHINGTON PLZ</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PROVIDENCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02903</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-04-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>87399.1</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1508</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person beneficially owns 1,508 shares of the issuer's Class A Common Stock of which (i) 211 shares are held directly by the reporting person, (ii) 2 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person is a beneficiary, (iii) 97 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person's spouse is trustee and the reporting person is a beneficiary, (iv) 54 shares are held by the reporting person's spouse, (v) 435 shares are held by a trust of which a member of the reporting person's immediate family is trustee and the reporting person is a beneficiary, (vi) 500 shares are held by a trust of which the reporting person is co-trustee and a beneficiary and (vii) 209 shares are held by a limited partnership of which the reporting person is a limited partner.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Margaret D. Farrell (Attorney-in-fact for Malcolm G. Chace)</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-04-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
