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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2020-05-05</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001798821</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Griffith Peter H.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ONE AMGEN CENTER DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>THOUSAND OAKS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>91320</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3384</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>21990</value>
                    <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>236.36</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2020-05-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>28341</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2022-05-05</value>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2030-05-05</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>28341</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28341</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) were granted pursuant to the Amgen Inc. 2009 Amended and Restated Equity Incentive Plan and vest in three annual installments of 33%, 33% and 34% on 5/5/2022, 5/5/2023 and 5/5/2024, respectively.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These shares include the following RSUs granted under the Company's equity plans: 18,352 RSUs which vest in two installments of 6,056 on each of 11/1/2021 and 11/1/2022 and one installment of 6,240 on 11/1/2023; and 3,384 RSUs which vest in installments of 1,116 on 5/5/2022, 1,117 on 5/5/2023 and 1,151 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 254 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 on 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 amount.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These non-qualified stock options are exercisable in three installments of 33%, 33% and 34% on 5/5/2022, 5/5/2023 and 5/5/2024, respectively.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Andrea A. Robinson, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Griffith</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2020-05-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
