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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-10-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001160241</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DIGITALNET HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DNET</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001021466</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RAUNER BRUCE V</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GTCR GOLDER RAUNER LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SEARS TOWER #6100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60606-6402</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7976535</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-10-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>73029</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.25</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were disposed of pursuant to a merger agreement, dated September 11, 2004, between the issuer, BAE Systems North America Inc. and BAE Systems Acquisition Corp. in exchange for a cash payment of $30.25 per share.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares reported in Table I, except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for Section 16 purposes or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">GTCR Fund VII, L.P. (&quot;Fund VII&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR Partners VII, L.P. (&quot;GTCR Partners VII&quot;) is the general partner of Fund VII and GTCR Golder Rauner, L.L.C. (&quot;GTCR&quot;) is the general partner of GTCR Partners VII.  As such, GTCR Partners VII and GTCR may be deemed to be beneficial owners of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR is managed by its members.  The Reporting Person is a member of GTCR and GTCR Partners VII and may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the issuer's Common Stock owned by Fund VII to the extent of the Reporting Person's indirect proportionate interest in Fund VII.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">GTCR Co-Invest, L.P. (&quot;Co-Invest&quot;) is the direct beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR is the general partner of Co-Invest.  As such, GTCR may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of the shares reported in Table I.  GTCR is managed by its members.  The Reporting Person is a member of GTCR and may be deemed to have an indirect pecuniary interest in the issuer's Common Stock owned by Co-Invest to the extent of the Reporting Person's indirect proportionate interest in Co-Invest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Martin A. DiLoreto under a Power of Attorney dated October 9, 2003</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-10-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

