<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-09-02</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001160497</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INGERSOLL RAND CO LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001215821</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUCKLEY GEORGE W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INGERSOLL-RAND COMPAN,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>200 CHESTNUT RIDGE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODCLIFF</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>07677</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Phantom Stock Units (Dir Def Comp)</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-09-02</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>171.86</value>
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>58.85</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>771.86</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">These phantom stock units were acquired  under the Ingersoll-Rand Company  Limited Directors Deferred Compensation and Stock Award  Plan (the "Directors Deferred Plan") and are to be settled in Class A Common Shares equal to the number of phantom stock units in accordance with the  provisions of the Directors Deferred Plan.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>By: /s/ Ronald G. Heller - Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-09-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

