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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-09-30</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001111817</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>LONGWEI PETROLEUM INVESTMENT HOLDING LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>LPH</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001498430</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Toups Michael P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>30 GUANGHUA AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>WAN BAILIN DISTRICT, TAIYUAN CITY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SHANXI PROVINCE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>F4</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>030024</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>CHINA</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-09-30</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>15000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Received 15,000 shares of common stock pursuant to a Consulting Agreement dated June 18, 2010 in which Mr. Toups is entitled to an aggregate stock award of 60,000 shares of the Company's common stock, 15,000 shares of which shall vest and be issued on the last day of each calendar quarter, beginning September 30, 2010.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Michael Toups</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
