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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-10-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001269871</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PHYSICIANS FORMULA HOLDINGS, INC.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>face</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001010422</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DDJ CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>130 TURNER STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>BUILDING 3, SUITE 600</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WALTHAM</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>02453</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>2009-10-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>789010</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>2.63</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Footnotes</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Indirect ownership in securities held by DDJ/Ontario Credit Opportunities Fund, L.P.  Unable to determine exact pecuniary interest and disclaims any beneficial interest in excess of pecuniary.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">DDJ Capital Management, LLC (DDJ) serves as investment manager, and accordingly, has voting and investment power in securities held by DDJ/Ontario Credit Opportunities Fund, L.P. DDJ also serves as investment manager, and accordingly, has voting and investment power, but no pecuniary interest, in securities held by an account managed by DDJ on behalf of an institutional investor.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>DDJ Capital Management, LLC,By:/s/David J. Breazzano, Name: David J. Breazzano, Title: President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-10-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
