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

    <schemaVersion>X0407</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-06-09</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001121788</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GARMIN LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GRMN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001446349</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hartnett Joseph J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7755 JOLIET DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>TINLEY PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60477</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-06-09</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1501</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20459</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-06-10</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>376</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>105.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20083</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired pursuant to a grant of restricted stock units under the Garmin Ltd. 2011 Non-Employee Directors' Equity Incentive Plan. The award vests on June 9, 2024.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes the 1,501 unvested shares acquired pursuant to the grant of the restricted stock unit award described in Footnote 1 and 1,502 unvested shares acquired pursuant to a previously granted restricted stock unit award.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">1,502 shares that were acquired pursuant to an award of restricted stock units on June 10, 2022 vested and were released to the reporting person. Of these 1,502 shares, 376 were withheld to pay a resulting tax liability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes the 1,501 unvested shares acquired pursuant to the grant of the restricted stock unit award described in Footnote 1.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul E. Cassat, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-06-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
