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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-05-15</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001667779</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Spears Michael P</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>SVP, QA and RA</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6221</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>86.47</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>45338</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-05-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1893</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>87.20</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>43445</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The sales reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by the reporting person on March 14, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported represents the weighted average sale price of the shares sold.  The shares were sold at varying prices in the range of $85.88 to $86.88.  The Reporting Person hereby undertakes, upon request of the Staff of the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer, to provide full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 4,328 restricted stock units granted on February 22, 2017, which vest as to one-half of the total units on February 22, 2019 and one-half of the total units on February 22, 2020; 7,477 restricted stock units granted on July 27, 2015, which vest on July 27, 2018; 3,418 restricted stock units granted on February 24, 2016, which vest on February 24, 2019; 5,982 performance share units granted on February 24, 2016, which vest on February 24, 2019; and 4,027 restricted stock units granted on February 14, 2018, which vest as to one-third of the total units on February 14, 2019, one-third of the total units on February 14, 2020 and one-third of the total units on February 14, 2021, subject to continued employment.  Vested shares will be delivered to the reporting person as soon as practicable following a vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The price reported represents the weighted average sale price of the shares sold.  The shares were sold at varying prices in the range of $86.93 to $87.42.  The Reporting Person hereby undertakes, upon request of the Staff of the U.S. Securities Exchange Commission, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer, to provide full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David Colleran, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-05-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
