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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-03-13</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001105101</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GIGAMEDIA LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GIGM</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001418332</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Criterion Capital Partners Master Fund, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>STRATHVALE HOUSE-GROUND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NORTH CHURCH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GEORGE TOWN</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>E9</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>00000</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>CAYMAN ISLANDS</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Ordinary Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-03-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>24484</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.1274</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8319357</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Note</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares reported in Item 5 of Table 1 are the aggregate number of shares beneficially owned indirectly by Criterion Capital Management, LLC, the general partner of Criterion Capital Partners Master Fund, L.P. and the investment adviser or general partner of other investment funds and accounts.    Criterion Capital Management, LLC disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.    The total amount reported in Item 5 includes 6,124,716 shares beneficially owned directly by the Reporting Person, Criterion Capital Partners Master Fund, L.P.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Criterion Capital Partners Master Fund, L.P., by Criterion Capital Management, LLC, General Partner, by R. Daniel Beckham</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-03-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
