<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
  <periodOfReport>2004-01-16</periodOfReport>
  <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001209821</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CROSSTEX ENERGY INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>XTXI</issuerTradingSymbol>
  </issuer>
  <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000904293</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LUBAR SHELDON B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2501 CEDAR SPRINGS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75201</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 $0.01 per share</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2004-01-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>637498</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>A</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>697498</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By Lumbar Nominees</value>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series B 7 1/2% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>6.00</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2004-01-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>218749</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>6.00</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>437498</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
          <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By Lumbar Nominees</value>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
    <derivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
        <value>Series C 7 1/2% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <value>7.00</value>
        <footnoteId id="F2"/>
      </conversionOrExercisePrice>
      <transactionDate>
        <value>2004-01-16</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
        <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
        <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
        <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
        <value></value>
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
        <transactionShares>
          <value>100000</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionShares>
        <transactionPricePerShare>
          <value>7.00</value>
          <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </transactionPricePerShare>
        <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
          <value>D</value>
        </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <exerciseDate>
        <footnoteId id="F3"/>
      </exerciseDate>
      <expirationDate>
        <footnoteId id="F4"/>
      </expirationDate>
      <underlyingSecurity>
        <underlyingSecurityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock</value>
        </underlyingSecurityTitle>
        <underlyingSecurityShares>
          <value>200000</value>
          <footnoteId id="F1"/>
          <footnoteId id="F6"/>
        </underlyingSecurityShares>
      </underlyingSecurity>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
        <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
          <value>0</value>
        </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
        <directOrIndirectOwnership>
          <value>I</value>
        </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        <natureOfOwnership>
          <value>By Lumbar Nominees</value>
        </natureOfOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeTransaction>
  </derivativeTable>
  <footnotes>
    <footnote id="F1">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein, and the inclusion of these shares in this report shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of all the reported shares of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F2">Subject to certain adjustments as provided in the Certificate of Designations for such series of preferred stock that converted into the Common Stock upon the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering.</footnote>
    <footnote id="F3">Immediately</footnote>
    <footnote id="F4">None</footnote>
    <footnote id="F5">Reflects a 2-for-1 stock split, to be effected in the form of a stock dividend, to be effective upon January 16, 2004, the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering, pursuant to which each share of Series B 7??% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock will become convertible into 2 shares of Common Stock. </footnote>
    <footnote id="F6">Reflects a 2-for-1 stock split, to be effected in the form of a stock dividend, to be effective upon January 16, 2004, the closing of the Issuer's initial public offering, pursuant to which each share of Series C 7??% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock will become convertible into 2 shares of Common Stock.</footnote>
  </footnotes>
  <ownerSignature>
    <signatureName>/s/ Leslie J. Wylie, by power of attorney</signatureName>
    <signatureDate>2004-01-16</signatureDate>
  </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

