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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000021344</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COCA COLA CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001168020</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MCHENRY DONALD F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>SCHOOL OF FOREIGN SERVICE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>GEORGETOWN UNIV, INTERCULTURAL CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20057</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.25 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50807</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Phantom Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5380.85</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>40.33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.25 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5380.85</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>61170.89</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes one share acquired in December 2012 under The Coca-Cola Company Dividend and Cash Investment Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each phantom share unit is economically equivalent to one share of Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Consists of 4,959.09 phantom share units credited to the reporting person under The Coca-Cola Company Directors' Plan effective January 1, 2013 (the &quot;Directors' Plan&quot;) for 2013 compensation, which may include voluntary deferred compensation, and 421.76 phantom share units accrued under the Directors' Plan as a result of crediting phantom dividends.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The phantom share units credited under the Directors' Plan are settled in cash the later of (i) January 15 of the year following the year in which the reporting person leaves the Board, or (ii) six months following the date on which the reporting person leaves the Board.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gloria K. Bowden, attorney-in-fact for Donald F. McHenry</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-04-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
