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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-05-14</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2020-05-18</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001364479</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERC HOLDINGS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HRI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001398154</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Graziano Nick</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>27500 RIVERVIEW CENTER BLVD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BONITA SPRINGS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34134</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4819</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4819</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">A clerical error previously reported the award of 4,819 restricted stock units as phantom stock. The restricted stock units, each of which represents the right to receive one share of the Issuer's common stock on the vesting date, which is the business day immediately preceding the date of the Issuer's 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, subject to the Reporting Person's continued membership on the Issuer's Board of Directors through the vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ S. Wade Sheek by Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-11-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
