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

    <schemaVersion>X0305</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-04-27</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2012-04-30</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001097264</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLOS THERAPEUTICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ALTH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001489966</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Morris Charles Q</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>11080 CIRCLEPOINT ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTMINSTER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chief Medical Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-04-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7970</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.8101</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>655031</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">These shares are being sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan for Charles Q. Morris in order to cover the withholding tax and other costs associated with such sale (i.e., wire fees, commission or interest) in connection with the vesting of restricted stock units on April 26, 2012.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David C. Clark, Attorney-in-Fact for Charles Q. Morris</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-05-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
