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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2017-06-20</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001555538</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SunCoke Energy Partners, L.P.</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SXCP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001535539</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1011 WARRENVILLE ROAD, STE 600</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LISLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60532</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-06-20</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>27899</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.949</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26800151</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2017-06-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>13501</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.9479</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26813652</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The purchases reported in this Form 4 were effected pursuant to a Rule 10b5-1 trading plan adopted by Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC on May 1, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC (reporting person) is the record and beneficial owner of the Common Units reported on this form.  SunCoke Energy, Inc. holds 100% of the membership interests in Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC and thus may be deemed to beneficially own Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC's interest in the issuer, through its ability to control Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC.  SunCoke Energy, Inc. and Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC also may be deemed to own beneficially a 2% general partner interest in the Issuer through SunCoke Energy Partners GP LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC. This Form 4 therefore comprises a joint  filing by Sun Coal &amp; Coke LLC and SunCoke Energy, Inc.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Rita M. Slager, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-06-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
