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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-02-27</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001464423</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PMT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001275713</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPECTOR DAVID</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PENNYMAC MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3043 TOWNSGATE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WESTLAKE VILLAGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91361</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4226</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.8838</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>289686</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares of Beneficial Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-02-27</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2910</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.8749</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>286776</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The common shares of beneficial interest were sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported is the weighted average price of multiple transactions ranging from $16.84 to $16.93.  The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer the number of common shares of beneficial interest and the prices at which the transactions were effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reported amount consists of 108,860 restricted share units and 180,826 common shares of beneficial interest.  The restricted share units are to be settled in an equal number of common shares of beneficial interest upon vesting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The price reported is the weighted average price of multiple transactions ranging from $16.84 to $16.91.  The reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request to the SEC, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer the number of common shares of beneficial interest and the prices at which the transactions were effected.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The reported amount consists of 108,860 restricted share units and 177,916 common shares of beneficial interest.  The restricted share units are to be settled in an equal number of common shares of beneficial interest upon vesting.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Derek W. Stark, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Spector</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-03-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
