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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-01-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001144945</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PENN VIRGINIA RESOURCE PARTNERS L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PVR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000077159</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PENN VIRGINIA CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 MATSONFORD ROAD SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>THREE RADNOR CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RADNOR</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19087</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>100% owner of general partner</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-01-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>975</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>19805963</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Parent Company</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Transfer of common units to Penn Virginia Resource GP Corp. (&quot;GP Corp&quot;) due to the forfeiture of common units issued to employees of Penn Virginia Resource GP, LLC, the general partner of the Issuer, (the &quot;General Partner&quot;) pursuant to the General Partner's Third Amended and Restated Long Term Incentive Plan.  The forfeiture date value of the common units was $25.79.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Penn Virginia Corporation is the ultimate parent company of Penn Virginia GP Holdings, L.P. (&quot;GP Holdings&quot;) and GP Corp.  As such, Penn Virginia Corporation may be deemed to beneficially own common units held by GP Holdings and GP Corp.  In addition, as the ultimate parent company of PVG GP, LLC, the general partner of GP Holdings, the ultimate parent company of the General Partner, Penn Virginia Corporation appoints the directors of the General Partner.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nancy M. Snyder, Vice President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-01-15</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
