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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-01-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001138951</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LEAPFROG ENTERPRISES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001263308</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MOLLUSK HOLDINGS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 310</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALNUT CREEK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94596</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001263307</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CEPHALOPOD CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 310</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALNUT CREEK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94596</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001263306</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAWRENCE INVESTMENTS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 YGNACIO VALLEY ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 310</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALNUT CREEK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94596</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901999</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ELLISON LAWRENCE JOSEPH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O DELPHI ASSET MGMT CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6005 PLUMAS STREET, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RENO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NV</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>89519</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-01-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>4.02</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2117258</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sale of shares pursuant to pre-established Rule 10b5-1(c) trading plan, adopted November 3, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reporting persons other than Mollusk Holdings, LLC disclaim beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of their pecuniary interests therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip B. Simon, President of Cephalopod Corporation, Member of Mollusk Holdings, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip B. Simon, President of Cephalopod Corporation</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip B. Simon, President of Lawrence Investments, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip B. Simon, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Ellison</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
