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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-02-14</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000882796</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BIOCRYST PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BCRX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001230708</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>STAAB THOMAS R II</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4505 EMPEROR BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 200</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DURHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27703</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emp. Stock Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-02-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>31500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2020-02-14</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-12-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>31500</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 18, 2019, BioCryst Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has accepted and filed its new drug application for the approval of oral, once daily berotralstat (BCX7353) for the prevention of hereditary angioedema attacks. As a result, one of the vesting criteria associated with the performance-based stock options awarded to all employees in December 2014, excluding the Chief Executive Officer, has been met. Therefore, 35% of the performance-based stock options vested.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alane P. Barnes, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
