-----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,
 E5JMb7fyviDGULfdEAMFEYT0bT+mfVZEr7yQM+FRlsyLiOPipkjV06SHwMzIzfm3
 XVON2mMvvHBo1ltCWM+b1w==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001239849-04-000002.txt : 20040309
<SEC-HEADER>0001239849-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040309
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040309110009
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001239849-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040305
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040309

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:		04656356

	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:	MISCELLANEOUS FABRICATED METAL PRODUCTS [3490]
		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>2004-03-05</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, SUITE 290</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 &amp; Asst. Sec.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-03-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1295</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2007-03-05</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1295</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1295</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) convert into shares of common stock on a one-for-one basis. RSUs are issued pursuant to the issuer's Management Stock Purchase Plan (MSPP). Under the MSPP, executives may make an advance election to receive RSUs in lieu of a selected percentage or dollar amount of the executive's annual incentive bonus under the issuer's Bonus Plan. RSUs are issued in whole units on the basis of a 33% discount from the fair market value of the issuer's common stock on the date the underlying bonus is determined and generally vest 3 years from the date of grant, at which time they convert into shares of common stock unless the executive has  previously selected a longer deferral period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Alan J. Glass</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-03-09</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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