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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-05-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000007536</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARROW ELECTRONICS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ARW</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001366091</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Zech Gretchen</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>9201 EAST DRY CREEK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CENTENNIAL</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CO</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>80112</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Chief Human Resources Off</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8400</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>67.4063</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11528</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $67.09-$67.71, inclusive. Full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price will be provided by the reporting person upon request to the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the issuer, or a security holder of the issuer.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Gabriela S. Munoz, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-05-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
