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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2019-12-15</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001121788</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GARMIN LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GRMN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001483374</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Biddlecombe Sean</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>LIBERTY HOUSE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>HOUNSDOWN BUSINESS PARK</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SOUTHAMPTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>SO409LR</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Managing Director, EMEA</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>582</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>97.43</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8529</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Registered Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2019-12-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1074</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>9603</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On December 15, 2019, 1,234 shares that were acquired pursuant to previously granted restricted stock unit awards vested and were released to the reporting person. Of those 1,234 shares, 582 shares were withheld to pay the resulting tax liability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 2,801 unvested shares acquired pursuant to restricted stock units awards previously granted.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">On December 15, 2019 the reporting person received a grant of 1,074 restricted stock units, which vest in three equal annual installments, beginning on December 15, 2020.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Includes 3,875 unvested shares acquired pursuant to the December 15, 2019 restricted stock units award and previously granted restricted stock unit awards.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By Joshua H. Maxfield, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2019-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
