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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-01-03</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000844789</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>US HOME SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ushs</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001249607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BUCHHOLZ DON A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1201 ELM STREET STE 3500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75270</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-01-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>782</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.39</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>585723</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the USHS Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan, each non-employee director shall receive an annual retainer of $15,000 of which $5,000 shall by paid by the Company by issuing shares of its common stock in lieu of cash compensation. The plan provides that the number of shares of common stock to be issued in lieu of the $5,000 cash payment shall be based on the closing sales price of the Companys common stock on the first business day of each year.  The company's closing sales price of its common stock as quoted on the Nasdaq National Market System on January 3, 2006 was $6.39. The 782 shares were issued to the director in lieu of a cash payment of $5,000.  The remaining $10,000 annual retainer will be paid in quarterly payment of $2,500, which at the option of the director may be paid in cash or in shares of common stock of the Company.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">After this transaction, Mr. Buchholz directly owns 78,569 shares and indireclty owns 507,154 shares which includes 50,000 shares held by Buchholz Investments and 457,154 held by SWS Group, Inc. of which Mr. Buchholz is chairman of the Board. Buchholz Investments is a general partnership. The partners are Don A. Buchholz, his spouse (Ruth Buchholz), his son (Robert Buchholz) and his daughter (Chrystine B. Roberts).  Robert Buchholz has voting and investment power with regard to the 50,000 shares owned by the parthership.  Don A. Buchholz and his spouse jointly own a one-third interest in the partnership and his son and daughter each own a one-third interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Don A. Buchholz</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-01-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
