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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-12-18</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2013-12-30</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000713671</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DNB FINANCIAL CORP /PA/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>dnbf</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001235874</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GRIESSER GERARD F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>WILLOW FINANCIAL BANCORP INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>170 SOUTH WARNER ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WAYNE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19087</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>DNBF Common Stock $1 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-12-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>450</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.43</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>14729</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The amount in box 5 was not updated correctly in Acc-no: 0000713671-13-000042.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The stock certificate will include a restriction stating that the Grantee is not permitted to sell, assign, pledge gift, encumber or otherwise dispose of any of the transferred shares for one (1) year from the vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerald F Sopp for Gerard F Griesser</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-01-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
