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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-09-11</periodOfReport>

    <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>2014-09-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.93</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>17593</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>6.93</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-09-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-04-23</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2017-04-23</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>DNBF Common Stock $1 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1800</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sale, assignment, pledge, gift, or any other disposition, alienation or encumbrance of the shares represented by this certificate are restricted and prohibited until 9/11/2016, pursuant to the terms of a Stock Option Agreement dated April 23, 2010, between DNB Financial Corporation and the holder of the shares named on this certificate, which may be examined at the principal office of the Company, and such shares may be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged, given or otherwise disposed of, alienated or encumbered only upon compliance with the terms of that Agreement.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gerald F Sopp for Gerard F Griesser</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
