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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-10-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001355754</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INSTRUCTURE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>INST</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001456865</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EPIC VENTURE FUND IV, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EPIC VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15 W. SOUTH TEMPLE #500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALT LAKE CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001137502</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZIONS SBIC LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EPIC VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15 W. SOUTH TEMPLE #500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALT LAKE CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001259434</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MADSEN KENT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EPIC VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15 W. SOUTH TEMPLE #500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALT LAKE CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001281063</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Efstratis E. Nicholaus</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EPIC VENTURES</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15 W. SOUTH TEMPLE #500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SALT LAKE CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84101</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>2016-10-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3080</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2283848</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-10-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1388</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1030568</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Zions SBIC LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-10-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33451</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Kent I. Madsen</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-10-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>45</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.73</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33451</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By NKE Investments, LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Epic Management Partners, LLC (EMP) is the investment manager of Epic Venture Fund IV, LLC (EVF IV) and has sole voting and investment power with regard to the shares held directly by EVF IV.  E. Nicholaus Efstratis (Mr. Efstratis) and Kent I. Madsen (Mr. Madsen) are the managers of EMP and, therefore, may be deemed to share voting and investment power with regard to the shares held by EVF IV. Each of such individuals disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The inclusion of these securities shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of the reported securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">ZWMC IV, L.L.C. (ZWMC) is the investment manager of Zions SBIC LLC (Zions SBIC) and has sole voting and investment power with regard to the shares held directly by Zions SBIC.  Mr. Efstratis and Mr. Madsen are the managers of ZWMC and, therefore, may be deemed to share voting and investment power with regard to the shares held by Zions SBIC.  Each of such individuals disclaims beneficial ownership of such securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.  The inclusion of these securities shall not be deemed an admission of beneficial ownership of the reported securities for purposes of Section 16 or any other purpose.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares are owned directly by Mr. Madsen.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Mr. Efstratis has voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by NKE Investments, LLC.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kent I. Madsen, Manager of Epic Management Partners, LLC, Investment Manager of Epic Venture Fund IV, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kent I. Madsen, Manager of ZWMC, IV, L.L.C., Investment Manager of Zions SBIC LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kent I. Madsen, an individual</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ E. Nicholaus Efstratis, an individual</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-11</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
