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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-12-04</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001350381</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INNERWORKINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INWK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001423385</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sagard Capital Partners, L.P.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>325 GREENWICH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001423388</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sagard Capital Partners GP, Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>325 GREENWICH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001423386</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sagard Capital Partners Management Corp</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>325 GREENWICH AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2ND FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>GREENWICH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>06830</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>2013-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>75000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7386425</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-12-04</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>33700</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7420125</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Sagard Capital Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (&quot;Sagard&quot;), is the direct beneficial owner of the reported shares of Common Stock of the Issuer (the &quot;Shares&quot;).  Sagard Capital Partners GP, Inc., a Delaware corporation (&quot;GP&quot;), and Sagard Capital Partners Management Corp., a Delaware corporation (&quot;Sagard Management,&quot; and together with Sagard and GP, the &quot;Reporting Persons&quot;) may be deemed to be indirect beneficial owners of such reported Shares.  Each of the Reporting Persons disclaims beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 16a-1(a)(2)) of the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>This Form 4 is being filed by the Reporting Persons. As a result of direct and indirect securities holdings, both Power Corporation of Canada and The Desmarais Family Residuary Trust (the &quot;Trust&quot;), which was formed under the Last Will and Testament of Paul G. Desmarais, may be deemed (i) to control the Reporting Persons, although the filing of this Form 4 shall not be construed as an admission that any such control relationship actually exists, and (ii) to beneficially own the securities reported herein. Each of Power Corporation of Canada, the Trust and the trustees of the Trust disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein except to the extent of its pecuniary interest therein, if any.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charles J. Downey III, Attorney-in-Fact for Sagard Capital Partners, L.P.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charles J. Downey III, Attorney-in-Fact for Sagard Capital Partners GP, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charles J. Downey III, Attorney-in-Fact for Sagard Capital Partners Management Corp.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-12-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
