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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-02-13</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075829</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PALL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001311227</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Goldstein Mark</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PALL CORPORATION,</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>25 HARBOR PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORT WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11050</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>2012 Stock Compensation Plan Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-02-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>183.48</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>85.16</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>183.48</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1136.457</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Units are settled in Common Stock of the Issuer on a one-for-one basis, in five annual installments, following the Reporting Person's termination of service as a Director of the Issuer pursuant to the Issuer's 2012 Stock Compensation Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 2.557 Units, in accordance with the Issuer's 2012 Stock Compensation Plan, as a result of a cash dividend declared by the Issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Roya Behnia as Attorney-in-Fact for Mark Goldstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-02-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
