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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-24</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001145197</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INSULET CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PODD</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001631895</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Petrovic Shacey</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INSULET CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>600 TECHNOLOGY PARK DRIVE, SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BILLERICA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>01821</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>President and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2732</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>45.96</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>83993</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This transaction represents the withholding of shares received upon the vesting of restricted stock units to cover the associated tax obligations.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 13,522 restricted stock units granted on February 22, 2017, which vest one-third of the total units on February 22, 2018, one-third of the total units on February 22, 2019, and one-third of the total units on February 22, 2020; 18,989 restricted stock units granted on February 9, 2015, which vest on February 9, 2018; 4,542 performance share units granted on April 1, 2015, which vest one-half of the total performance share units on April 1, 2017 and one-half of the total performance share units on April 1, 2018; and 14,240 restricted stock units granted on February 24, 2016, which vest one-half of the total units on February 24, 2018 and one-half of the total units on February 24, 2019, subject to continued employment.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person as soon as practicable following a vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes an aggregate of 1,386 shares acquired under the Insulet Corporation 2007 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on the following dates: 712 shares on December 31, 2015 and 674 shares on June 30, 2016.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Colleran, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
