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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-01-08</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000711404</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>COOPER COMPANIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>COO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001357705</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>White Albert G III</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6140 STONERIDGE MALL RD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 590</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PLEASANTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94588</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief Strategy Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>2016-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
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            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-08</value>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>571</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33199</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>316</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32883</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33336</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-08</value>
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    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-08</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
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                    <value>1975</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F5"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1975</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>681</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F7"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>681</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1360</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
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            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>571</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
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            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>571</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1711</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
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                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-01-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>453</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F10"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>453</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1809</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">1/8/2016 Deferred PSU Release - Shares awarded on achievement of maximum performance targets under Performance Share Awards granted December 13, 2010.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">PSU Deferral: Ownership of these shares was deferred for a designated period as provided by the terms of the underlying performance share award agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">1/8/16 RSU/PSU Release: Shares withheld to cover applicable tax obligations.  A FMV (closing price of the Company's common stock on 1/8/16) of $128.71 was used.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">RSU Exercise Price: There is no exercise price associated with the grant of Restricted Stock Units.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Grant Date 12/14/11 RSU Vesting Date: The grant vests in equal portions on the following dates: 1/8/13, 1/8/14, 1/8/15 and 1/8/16.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">RSU Expiration Date:  This award has no expiration date.  Units will either vest or be forfeit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Grant Date 12/12/12 RSU Vesting Date: The grant vests in equal portions on the following dates: 1/8/14, 1/8/15, 1/8/16, 1/8/17 and 1/8/18.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Grant Date 12/11/13 RSU Vesting Date: The grant vests in equal portions on the following dates: 1/8/15, 1/8/16, 1/8/17, 1/8/18 and 1/8/19.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">RSU Expiration Date: This award has no expiration date. Units will either vest or be forfeit.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">12/9/14 RSU Grant - Vesting Date: The grant vests in equal portions on the following dates: 1/8/16, 1/8/17, 1/8/18, 1/8/19 and 1/8/20.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Albert G. White III</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-01-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
