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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-02-16</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000318154</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMGEN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMGN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001748434</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REESE DAVID M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE AMGEN CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THOUSAND OAKS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Research and Development</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>54.69</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>42059</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1147</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>237.21</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40912</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Nqso (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>54.69</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2300</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2013-04-25</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2021-04-25</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2300</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Non-market exercise of 2,300 stock options expiring April 25, 2021 wherein 1,147 shares issuable pursuant to the exercise of these options were withheld by the Company to cover the option exercise price and tax withholding, with the remaining shares delivered to the reporting person.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares include the following Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) granted under the Company's equity plans: 1,673 RSUs which vest on 5/1/2021; 335 RSUs which vest on 5/1/2021; 680 RSUs which vest in installments of 335 on 4/27/2021 and 345 on 4/27/2022; 8,597 RSUs which vest in installments of 4,234 on 11/2/2021 and 4,363 on 11/2/2022; 4,511 RSUs which will vest in installments of 1,488 on 5/3/2021, 1,489 on 5/3/2022 and 1,534 on 5/3/2023; and 3,469 RSUs which vest in installments of 1,144 on 5/5/2022, 1,145 on 5/5/2023 and 1,180 on 5/5/2024. Vested RSUs will be paid in shares of the Company's common stock on a one-to-one basis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">These shares include 1,152 Dividend Equivalents (DEs) granted pursuant to the Amgen Inc. Amended and Restated 2009 Equity Incentive Plan and subject to a qualifying dividend reinvestment plan.  DEs are credited to the reporting person's unvested RSUs and are paid out in shares of the Company's common stock on a one-to-one basis according to the vesting schedule, along with a cash payment for any remaining fractional share amount.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David M. Reese</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-02-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
