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

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-09-15</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>2011-09-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.53</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1929691</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </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 March 2, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The reported price is a weighted average price. The shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from a low of $3.50 to a high of $3.60. The reporting person undertakes to provide to the named Issuer, any security holder of the named Issuer, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the foregoing range.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">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>2011-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip B. Simon, President of Cephalopod Corporation</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip B. Simon, President of Lawrence Investments, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Philip B. Simon, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Ellison</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-09-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
