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

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-10-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001253176</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VAPOTHERM INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VAPO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001506228</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAWRENCE BRIAN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>100 DOMAIN DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EXETER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03833</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>SVP &amp; Chief Technology Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-10-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60188</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This award was granted under the Vapotherm, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan in the form of restricted stock units. The restricted stock units vest with respect to approximately one-fourth of the underlying shares on each of the one-year, two-year, three-year and four-year anniversaries of the grant date, subject to the Reporting Person's continued service as an employee or other service provider to the Issuer through the vesting dates.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 43,701 shares that will be issued over time upon vesting pursuant to restricted stock units granted under the Vapotherm, Inc. Amended and Restated 2018 Equity Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On August 18, 2023, a 1-for-8 reverse split of the common stock of Vapotherm, Inc. occurred resulting in a decrease in the number of shares held by the reporting person.  In addition, proportionate adjustments have been made to the reporting person's outstanding equity awards, including the number of restricted stock units as reflected on this Form 4 and described in footnote (2) to this Form 4, to reflect the 1-for-8 reverse stock split.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James Lightman, as Attorney In Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
