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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-03-04</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001321646</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KRA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001173003</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEMETRIOU STEVEN J.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O KRATON PERFORMANCE POLYMERS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15710 JOHN F. KENNEDY BLVD, SUITE 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HOUSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>77032</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-03-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2936</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17035</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each director is granted $70,000 of common stock of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. for their services on the Board. The number of shares is based upon a fair market value of $23.835 determined by averaging of the high and low prices of the common stock of Kraton Performance Polymers, Inc. as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on March 1, 2013.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James L. Simmons as attorney-in-fact for Steven J. Demetriou</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-03-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
