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

    <schemaVersion>X0609</schemaVersion>

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    <periodOfReport>2026-07-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000723603</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CULP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CULP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0002032661</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Hunsberger Mary Elizabeth</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerNonUSAddressFlag>false</rptOwnerNonUSAddressFlag>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>410 W. ENGLISH ROAD, 5TH FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HIGH POINT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>27262</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Operating Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </transactionDate>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>14758</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>34758</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                </transactionShares>
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                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>38233</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5205</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.7</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>33028</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
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        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>14758</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>14758</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>3475</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
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                    <value>A</value>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3475</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F5"/>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Contingent right to receive issuance of Culp, Inc. common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These restricted stock units represent the right to receive 14,758 shares of Culp, Inc. common stock based on the reporting person remaining employed with the company through July 17, 2026, as set forth in the award agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Reflects the total number of service-based restricted stock units with a vesting date of July 17, 2026, held by the reporting person following the reported transaction.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">These restricted stock units represent the right to receive 3,475 shares of Culp, Inc. common stock based on the Company's upholstery segment's achievement of certain performance criteria over a three-year period ended May 3, 2026, as set forth in the award agreement.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Reflects the total number of performance-based restricted stock units with a performance period ended May 3, 2026, held by the reporting person following the reported transaction.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mary Beth Hunsberger</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2026-07-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
