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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000278130</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PIER 1 IMPORTS INC/DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PIR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183657</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BURGOYNE JOHN H</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PIER 1 IMPORTS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>100 PIER 1 PLACE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT WORTH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>76102</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</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-03-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28207.96</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.78</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>231823.67</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Deferred stock units pursuant to a Director Deferred Stock Unit Award for Non-Employee Directors granted under the Pier 1 Imports, Inc. 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended.  The deferred units are with respect to non-employee compensation for the period March 2010 through February 2011, pursuant to the Issuer's non-employee director compensation plan, as amended.  The deferred stock units were credited to the reporting person's deferred stock units account, which account is maintained by the Issuer, on March 1, 2010, and are to be settled within five (5) business days after the person ceases being a member of the Board of Directors, subject to adjustment for the period of service as a Director.  Each deferred stock unit is the economic equivalent of one share of the Issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Mr. Burgoyne's direct ownership consists of 10,437 shares held directly and 221,386.67 Director Deferred Stock Units.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ John H. Burgoyne  By: Michael A. Carter, Atty-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-03-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
