<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-09</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001084750</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NAVISITE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NAVI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001100613</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EVANS THOMAS R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>445 PARK AVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>10TH FL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10022</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>3.53</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-10-03</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On October 3, 2003, Mr. Evans was elected to the Board of Directors of the Company.  At such time, the Company did not have an existing stock option plan pursuant to which Mr. Evans was eligible to participate and receive an initial option grant.  On December 9, 2003, the stockholders of the Company approved the Company's Amended and Restated 2003 Stock Incentive Plan.  On such date, Mr. Evans was granted an option to purchase 50,000 shares of Common Stock under such plan.  A Special Committee of the Board of Directors determined that the exercise price of such option be set at $3.53 per share, equal to the closing price of the Company's Common Stock on October 3, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Option was vested and exercisable as to 2/36th of the number of shares subject to the option on the date of grant. Option vests and becomes exercisable as to 1/36th of the number of shares subject to the option on the third day of each month commencing January 3, 2004 until fully vested on October 3, 2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kevin P. Lanouette pursuant to POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

