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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-04-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000832101</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IDEX CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IEX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001301427</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Kingsley Lawrence D</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O IDEX CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>630 DUNDEE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTHBROOK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60062</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>36667</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>367771</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>242800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>610571</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>OPTIONS (RIGHT TO BUY)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>32.95</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-04-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>122224</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2009-04-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-04-08</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>122224</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>640324</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">ON APRIL 8, 2008, THE REPORTING PERSON RECEIVED A SPECIAL EQUITY GRANT OF 242,800 SHARES OF RESTRICTED STOCK, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO TIME BASED VESTING AND PERFORMANCE BASED VESTING, PURSUANT TO THE IDEX CORPORATION INCENTIVE AWARD PLAN (AS AMENDED AND RESTATED).  UNDER TIME BASED VESTING, 50% OF THE SHARES WILL VEST ON APRIL 8, 2011 AND THE REMAINING 50% OF THE SHARES WILL VEST ON APRIL 8, 2013.  HOWEVER, UNDER PERFORMANCE BASED VESTING, 100% OF THE SHARES WILL VEST IF THE CLOSING STOCK PRICE FOR IDEX CORPORATION COMMON STOCK IS GREATER THAN OR EQUAL TO $65.90 (TWO TIMES THE CLOSING STOCK PRICE OF IDEX CORPORATION COMMON STOCK ON THE GRANT DATE) FOR ANY FIVE CONSECUTIVE BUSINESS TRADING DAYS.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">THE OPTION GRANT VESTS IN FOUR EQUAL INSTALLMENTS BEGINNING ON APRIL 8, 2009.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">ON MAY 21, 2007, THE COMPANY STOCK OF IDEX CORPORATION SPLIT 3 FOR 2, RESULTING IN THE REPORTING PERSON'S ACQUISITION OF 172,700 ADDITIONAL OPTIONS.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>LAWRENCE D. KINGSLEY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-04-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
