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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-08-029197.txt : 20080501
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-08-029197.hdr.sgml : 20080501
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080501204545
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-08-029197
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080501
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080501
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080501

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ARES CAPITAL CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001287750
		IRS NUMBER:				331089684
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		280 PARK AVENUE, 22ND FLOOR
		STREET 2:		BUILDING EAST
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127507300

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		280 PARK AVENUE, 22ND FLOOR
		STREET 2:		BUILDING EAST
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10017

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			WEINER MICHAEL D
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001267619

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	814-00663
		FILM NUMBER:		08796392

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10250 CONSTELLATION BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2900
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067
		BUSINESS PHONE:		3108431985

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		10250 CONSTELLATION BLVD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2900
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067-6229
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-05-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001287750</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARES CAPITAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARCC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001267619</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>WEINER MICHAEL D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1999 AVENUE OF THE STARS, SUITE 1900</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90067</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP and General Counsel</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>999</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.0016</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5066</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-05-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>333</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.0016</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1700</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares acquired pursuant to the over-subscription privilege offered in connection with ARCC's rights offering that expired on April 21, 2008. Shares acquired in the offering were received by the Reporting Person on May 1, 2008.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 68 shares acquired under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan of Ares Capital Corporation in connection with the March 31, 2008 dividend.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 34 shares acquired under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan of Ares Capital Corporation in connection with the March 31, 2008 dividend.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>The reported number of securities does not include securities of Ares Capital Corporation owned by Ares Investments LLC or its affiliates as to which the Reporting Person may have certain pecuniary interests. The filing of this statement shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Person, for the purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is a beneficial owner of, and the Reporting Person expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of, any equity security owned by Ares Investments LLC.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Monica J. Shilling, by power of attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-05-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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