<?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>0001104997</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GTCR FUND VII 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>0001262949</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GTCR PARTNERS VII L P</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>3610810</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>7976535</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>58211</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>3610810</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 Fund VII, L.P., a limited partnership ("Fund VII") is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Tables I and II. GTCR Partners VII, L.P., a limited partnership, is the general partner of Fund VII and GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. is the general partner of GTCR Partners VII, L.P. As such, GTCR Partners VII, L.P. and GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. may be deemed to be beneficial owners of such securities. GTCR Partners VII, L.P. and GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares reported in Table I. The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that GTCR Partners VII, L.P. and GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. are, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owners 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>

