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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-03-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001210294</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CRAILAR TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CRLRF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001271621</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARRISON LARISA</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4529 RITHETWOOD DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAANICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>A1</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>V8X 4J5</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Corp Admin Officer &amp; Corp Sec</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.36</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-03-27</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-03-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Options (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>1.36</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-03-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>185000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2014-03-27</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2019-03-27</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>185000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>185000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Spouse</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Granted pursuant to and in accordance with the Company's 2011 Fixed Stock Option Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The options are subject to vesting provisions such that the options vest over a twelve month period with 1/12th of the aggregate amount vesting monthly commencing one month from the date of grant.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">In addition to the 50,000 options reported herein, the Reporting Person  also owns (i) 119,938 options exercisable into shares @ $1.02 expiring on August 9, 2015, (ii) 125,000 options exercisable into shares at $0.87 per share expiring on November 25, 2015, (iii) 125,000 options exercisable into shares at $2.77 per share expiring on August 19, 2016, and (iv) 155,000 options exercisable into shares at $2.23 per share expiring on October 11, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">In addition to the 185,000 options reported herein, the Reporting Person's spouse also owns (i) 300,000 options exercisable into shares at $1.17 per share expiring on October 20, 2014, (ii) 119,939 options exercisable into shares @ $1.02 expiring on August 9, 2015, (iii) 125,000 options exercisable into shares at $0.87 per share expiring on November 25, 2015, (iv)100,000 options exercisable into shares at $1.55 per share expiring on April 8, 2016,  (v) 125,000 options exercisable into shares at $2.77 per share expiring on August 19, 2016, and (vi) 180,000 options exercisable into shares at $2.23 per share expiring on October 11, 2017</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Larisa Harrison</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-04-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
