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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-10-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000892553</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CHART INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CIDI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264607</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AUDAX CHART LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264604</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AUDAX PRIVATE EQUITY BUSINESS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264605</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AUDAX PRIVATE EQUITY BUSINESS LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264606</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AUDAX HOLDINGS I LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264573</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AUDAX GROUP LP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001097123</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AUDAX PRIVATE EQUITY FUND L P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264945</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AUDAX MANAGEMENT CO LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001208476</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>101 HUNTINGTON HOLDINGS LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001075976</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WOLPOW MARC B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264373</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REHNERT GEOFFREY S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>101 HUNTINGTON AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02199</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-10-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1032992</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>64.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sold to CI Acquisition, Inc. (the &quot;Buyer&quot;) pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of August 2, 2005, among the Issuer, First Reserve Fund X, L.P., certain principal stockholders of the Issuer, including Audax Chart LLC, and the Buyer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Additional Reporting Persons: Audax Private Equity Fund, L.P., Audax Private Equity Business, L.L.C., Audax Private Equity Business, L.P., Audax Holdings I, L.L.C., Audax Group, L.P., 101 Huntington Holdings, L.L.C., Marc B. Wolpow, Geoffrey S. Rehnert and Audax Management Company, LLC</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Audax Chart LLC (&quot;Audax Chart&quot;) was the direct beneficial owner of the Common Stock.  Marc B. Wolpow and Geoffrey S. Rehnert are the managing members of 101 Huntington Holdings, L.L.C., which is the general partner of Audax Group, L.P., which is the sole managing member of Audax Holdings I, L.L.C., which is the general partner of Audax Private Equity Business, L.P., which is the sole managing member of Audax Private Equity Business, L.L.C., which is the general partner of Audax Private Equity Fund, L.P., which is the sole managing member of Audax Chart.  Audax Management Company, LLC has been granted a proxy over certain shares of the Issuer. The Reporting Persons disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of their pecuniary interest therein.  The filing of this form shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person is, for purposes of Section 16 or otherwise, the beneficial owner of such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Audax Chart LLC By: Richard T. Joseph, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Audax Private Equity Fund, L.P. By: Audax Private Equity Business, L.L.C., its general partner By: Richard T. Joseph, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Audax Private Equity Business, L.L.C. By: Richard T. Joseph, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Audax Private Equity Business, L.P. By: Audax Holdings I, L.L.C., its general partner By: Audax Group, L.P., its managing member By: 101 Huntington Holdings, L.L.C., its general partner By: Richard T. Joseph, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Audax Holdings I, L.L.C. By: Audax Group, L.P., its managing member By: 101 Huntington Holdings, L.L.C., its general partner By: Richard T. Joseph, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Audax Group, L.P. By: 101 Huntington Holdings, L.L.C., its general partner By: Richard T. Joseph, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>101 Huntington Holdings, L.L.C. By: Richard T. Joseph, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Audax Management Company, LLC By: Audax Group, L.P., its managing member By: 101 Huntington Holdings, L.L.C., its general partner By: Richard T. Joseph, Authorized Signatory</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Marc B. Wolpow</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Geoffrey S. Rehnert</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-10-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
