-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CkdrsDSdZigJZRHzxb+ANQBVmU1Uxh63j5D2A03wLyqwyKmKaN//esbW+myRSv9d
 6lxZCW4UoFPL5lHYWVyvLw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902270-05-000001.txt : 20050104
<SEC-HEADER>0000902270-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050104
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050104152308
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902270-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050103
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050104
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050104

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MELVILLE ANDREW E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185685

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-11908
		FILM NUMBER:		05506790

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		6436 CITY WEST PARKWAY
		CITY:			EDEN PRAIRIE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55344

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEPARTMENT 56 INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902270
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	POTTERY & RELATED PRODUCTS [3260]
		IRS NUMBER:				133684956
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0102

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE VILLAGE PLACE
		STREET 2:		6436 CITY WEST PARKWAY
		CITY:			EDEN PRAIRIE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55344
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9529434473

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE VILLAGE PLACE
		STREET 2:		6436 CITY WEST PARKWAY
		CITY:			EDEN PRAIRIE
		STATE:			MN
		ZIP:			55344
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000902270</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DEPARTMENT 56 INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DFS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185685</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MELVILLE ANDREW E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6436 CITY WEST PARKWAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EDEN PRAIRIE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>55344</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Exec. VP Customer Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>592</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7372</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Julie S. Wingert, attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----