-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 JcqJzroHgTbPMcAc3ZsrfW2fzn/0WuLMhiu0ZkhAWk6H/DMO3X9q8azMge/CWazz
 P8f/EeyTY+hFU5fqSKGOZw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001087423-04-000013.txt : 20040122
<SEC-HEADER>0001087423-04-000013.hdr.sgml : 20040122
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040122163357
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001087423-04-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040122
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040122

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RED HAT INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001087423
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER PROGRAMMING, DATA PROCESSING, ETC. [7370]
		IRS NUMBER:				061364380
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0228

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 VARSITY DRIVE
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9197543700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1801 VARSITY DR
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27606

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			THOMPSON KEVIN B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180598

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26281
		FILM NUMBER:		04537694

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RED HAT, INC
		STREET 2:		1801 VARSITY DRIVE
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27606
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9197543300 X44403

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O RED HAT, INC
		STREET 2:		1801 VARSITY DRIVE
		CITY:			RALEIGH
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			27606
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-22</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001087423</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RED HAT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RHAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180598</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>THOMPSON KEVIN B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RED HAT, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1801 VARSITY DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RALEIGH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>EVP/CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.0001 Par Value Per Share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.031</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.0001 Par Value Per Share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.2501</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy) - NQSO</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.031</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2010-11-28</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>195000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This option is exercisable 25% on the first anniversary date of the date of grant and 6.25% on the first day of each subsequent three-month period following one year from the date of grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Mark Webbink, Atty in Fact UPOA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----