<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2003-10-16</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001160241</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DIGITALNET HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DNET</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001262806</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GTCR CO INVEST LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6100 SEARS TOWER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001105021</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GTCR GOLDER RAUNER LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6100 SEARS TOWER</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>0</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock, par value $.001 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-10-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>33061</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>73029</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Class A Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <footnoteId id="F1"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2003-10-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>C</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>533</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <value>2003-10-09</value>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <value>2003-10-16</value>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>33061</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Each share of Class A Preferred Stock converted into a number of shares of Common Stock obtained by dividing (1) the sum of (a) the per share liquidation value of the Class A Preferred Stock ($1,000.00) and (b) the per share accrued and unpaid dividends on the Class A Preferred Stock, by (2) the IPO Price of $17.00 per share.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">GTCR Co-Invest, L.P., a limited partnership ("Co-Invest") is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Tables I and II. GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. is the general partner of Co-Invest. As such, GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of such securities. GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares reported in Table I. The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. is, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Not applicable.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Amit Mehta, by power of attorney</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2003-10-17</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

