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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2004-01-16</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001106917</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PINNACOR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCOR</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001106321</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>O CONNOR KEVIN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PINNACOR, 601 W. 26TH ST., 13TH FL.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10001</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
      <isDirector>1</isDirector>
      <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
      <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
      <isOther>0</isOther>
    </reportingOwnerRelationship>
  </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
    <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Common Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2004-01-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>104921</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>1.62</value>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2004-01-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>U</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>70000</value>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>70000</value>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>D</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">Disposed of pursuant to merger agreement between Pinnacor, Marketwatch and NMP, Inc. in exchange for either $2.42 per share, in cash, or .2659 shares of NMP, Inc. common stock, or a combination of both, depending on the elections of all the shareholders of Pinnacor.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">This option, which provided for 50% vesting on 6/3/02 and 50% vesting on 6/3/03, was assumed by Marketwatch in the merger and replaced with an option to purchase 18,613 shares of Marketwatch stock for $6.09 per share.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">The new stock options issued by Marketwatch in exchange for the previous Pinnacor options will expire on April 15, 2004.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Kevin O'Connor</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2004-01-20</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

