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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-04-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000203527</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>VAR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001753950</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Toth Christopher A.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3100 HANSEN WAY M/S E327</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PALO ALTO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94304</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SVP and Pres. Oncology Systems</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value>2021-04-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>15418</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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    <derivativeTable>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>633</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            </exerciseDate>
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            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>633</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <securityTitle>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6415</value>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>6415</value>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Performance Shares</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-04-15</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8437</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F8"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F8"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8437</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Amount of securities disposed of reflect 196 shares purchased on April 8, 2021 under the Varian Medical Systems, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan and a reduction of 8 shares as a result of a tax correction for the February 16, 2021 RSU vesting.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Disposed of pursuant to merger agreement (the &quot;Merger Agreement&quot;) between issuer and Siemens Healthineers I GmbH and certain other parties in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per share of common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Each restricted stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of VAR common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these restricted stock units, which provided for vesting in three equal annual installments beginning February 14, 2020, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per unvested share of underlying common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these restricted stock units, which provided for vesting in three equal annual installments beginning February 15, 2021, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per unvested share of underlying common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Each performance stock unit represents a contingent right to receive one share of VAR common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these performance stock units, which were granted November 15, 2018, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per share of underlying common stock and applicable performance conditions were deemed to be achieved at the target performance level.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, these performance stock units, which were granted November 21, 2019, were cancelled in exchange for a cash payment of $177.50 per share of underlying common stock and applicable performance conditions were deemed to be achieved at the target performance level.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Magnus Momsen, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-04-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
