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

    <documentType>4</documentType>
    <periodOfReport>2003-07-30</periodOfReport>
    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000875570</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PEOPLESOFT INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PSFT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232403</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CALDWELL NANCI</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PEOPLESOFT</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>4305 HACIENDA DR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLEASANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94588-8615</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>
  <nonDerivativeTable>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Common Stock, PeopleSoft, Inc.</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-06-30</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>648.0000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F1" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>14.93</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>A</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>2090.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
   <nonDerivativeTransaction>
      <securityTitle>
          <value>Restricted Stock, PeopleSoft, Inc.</value>
      </securityTitle>
      <transactionDate>
          <value>2003-07-30</value>
      </transactionDate>
      <transactionCoding>
          <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
          <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
          <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
      </transactionCoding>
      <transactionTimeliness>
      <value />
      </transactionTimeliness>
      <transactionAmounts>
          <transactionShares>
              <value>1562.0000</value>
              <footnoteId id="F2" />
          </transactionShares>
          <transactionPricePerShare>
              <value>16.60</value>
          </transactionPricePerShare>
          <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
              <value>D</value>
          </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
      </transactionAmounts>
      <postTransactionAmounts>
          <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
              <value>77113.0000</value>
          </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
      </postTransactionAmounts>
      <ownershipNature>
          <directOrIndirectOwnership>
              <value>D</value>
          </directOrIndirectOwnership>
      </ownershipNature>
   </nonDerivativeTransaction>
  </nonDerivativeTable>
  <derivativeTable>
  </derivativeTable>
<footnotes>
   <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired through participation in the PeopleSoft Employee Stock Purchase Plan.</footnote>
   <footnote id="F2">Automatic disposal of restricted stock pursuant to 10b5-1 trading plan.</footnote>
</footnotes>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Nanci  Caldwell</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
    <ownerSignature>
       <signatureName>Margaret Budd, by P.O.A.</signatureName>
       <signatureDate>2003-07-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

