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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 KST8CTeEkvGlr6WxSRVPRKEzsjejajxlkLEUPnqHUJur/+E57T358YShA80GLvNs
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001087423-06-000101.txt : 20060508
<SEC-HEADER>0001087423-06-000101.hdr.sgml : 20060508
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060508171150
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001087423-06-000101
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060508
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060508
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060508

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:			SZULIK MATTHEW
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001180595

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26281
		FILM NUMBER:		06817594

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-05-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001180595</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SZULIK MATTHEW</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>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman/CEO/President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.8918</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>644349</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-05-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>31.4847</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>634349</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This stock sale was effected pursuant to a Rule 10(b)5-1 trading plan effective January 5, 2006.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 16,273 shares held of record by the Matthew J. Szulik GRAT dated 5/26/99 for which the Reporting Person is the trustee.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Also includes 72,000 shares held of record by trusts for the benefit of the Reporting Person's children.  The Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Emily DelToro, Atty in Fact UPOA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-05-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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