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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-06-30</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916076</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MARTIN MARIETTA MATERIALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MLM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001084489</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MENAKER FRANK H JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>DLA PIPER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>500 EIGHTH ST., N.W.</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20004</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-06-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>63.10</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7196</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Common stock units were accrued under the Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. Common Stock Purchase Plan for Directors (the &quot;Plan&quot;) and are to be settled in stock in a lump sum or in installments not to exceed 10 years commencing on (i) the date the reporting person ceases to be a Non-Employee Director or (ii) the date that is one month and one year following the date the reporting person ceases to be a Non-Employee Director, in accordance with the reporting person's election under the Plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Roselyn Bar, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-07-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
