-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 SE4/Mjx4VbzqFWG2jT5HH6C1/p45YgcIBbVL375WY61biyZPG0bXMFLecB9Ku5Rd
 Bqycd/0MY+PD8+NwU5IzPw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001241574-03-000001.txt : 20030911
<SEC-HEADER>0001241574-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030911
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030911142507
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001241574-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030911
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030911

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DEDOMENICO MICHAEL E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001241574

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-27378
		FILM NUMBER:		03891723

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2800 SEE MARKET PLACE
		CITY:			STUART
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34997

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NUCO2 INC /FL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000947577
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WHOLESALE-CHEMICALS & ALLIED PRODUCTS [5160]
		IRS NUMBER:				650180800
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			FL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0630

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2800 S E MARKET PLACE
		CITY:			STUART
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34997
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5612211754

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2820 SE MARKET PLACE
		CITY:			STUART
		STATE:			FL
		ZIP:			34997

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	FOWLER CARBONICS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19951108
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-11</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000947577</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NUCO2 INC /FL</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>nuco</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001241574</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DEDOMENICO MICHAEL E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2800 SE MARKET PLACE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STUART</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34997</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.001 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.64</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33404</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>460000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>460000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Does not include shares subject to options reported in Table II.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Various.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Various.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Various.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Michael E. DeDomenico</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----