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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 UQ9gcRZ9JcM8EzIh7kuwb5NLgvxZPKwCAIcffTu858sEtweZRXBn/FSKpQjWGIQM
 n9lcecvHCxVGGA1WWkhuAQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001239849-04-000001.txt : 20040108
<SEC-HEADER>0001239849-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040108
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040108165053
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001239849-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040106
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GLASS ALAN J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001239849

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-14962
		FILM NUMBER:		04515864

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CIRCOR INTERNATIONAL INC
		STREET 2:		35 CORPORATE DRIVE
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01803-4230
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7812701200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CIRCOR INTERNATIONAL INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001091883
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	BLANK CHECKS [6770]
		IRS NUMBER:				043477276
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CIRCOR INC
		STREET 2:		35 CORPORATE DR., SUITE 290
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01803-4230
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7812701200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O CIRCOR INC
		STREET 2:		35 CORPORATE DR., SUITE 290
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01803-4230
</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>2004-01-06</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001091883</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CIRCOR INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cir</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239849</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GLASS ALAN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O CIRCOR, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>35 CORPORATE DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BURLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01803</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>General Counsel-Asst Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option--Right to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>23.8</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-01-06</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>800</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>800</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The options vest 20% per year over a 5-year period commencing with 1/6/2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options are convertible into shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The grant of restricted stock units reported herein entitles the reporting person to receipt of shares of the issuer's common stock upon the later of (i) vesting of the grant or a portion thereof and (ii) such longer deferral period as the reporting person may have elected in advance.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The restricted stock units reported herein vest in equal installments of one-third over a three-year period commencing 1/06/2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">As noted in footnotes 3 and 4, the restricted stock units vest over a three-year period and, subject to any longer deferral period selected by the reporting person, automatically convert into shares of common stock at no conversion cost to the reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alan J. Glass</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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