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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000023071</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ARTESYN TECHNOLOGIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ATSN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001128753</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GERRITY RICAHRD F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>7900 GLADES RD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 500</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BOCA RATON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>33434</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Corporate Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2262</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Non-Qualified Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>7.68</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2006-07-26</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2009-07-26</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reflects 415 shares acquired pursuant to a matching contribution through the Issuer's Employee Thirft &amp; Savings Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">50% vest after the second anniversary of the date of grant and an additional 50% vest after the third anniversary of the date of grant, subject to price performance of the Issuer's common stock; 100% vest 58 months from the date of grant regardless of the performance of the stock price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>POWER OF ATTORNEY:  KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that the undersigned does hereby constitute and appoint GISELLE HURWITZ with full power to act, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign the Form 3, 4 or 5 relating to Beneficial Ownership in Artesyn Technologies, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot;) during the period February 16, 2004 through February 15, 2005 pursuant to the Seurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and to file the same, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and the Company, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents and purposes as the unersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that the said attorney-in-fact and agent may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof. /s/ Richard F. Gerrity
Dated:  July 27, 2004</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Giselle Hurwitz for Richard F. Gerrity</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

