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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-12-26</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000029332</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DIXIE GROUP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>DXYN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001323953</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RGM Capital, LLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6621 WILLOW PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE ONE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001413431</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Moses Robert G</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>RGM CAPITAL, LLC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6621 WILLOW PARK DRIVE SUITE ONE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NAPLES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>FL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>34109</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common stock, $3.00 par value per share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-12-26</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1810</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.2228</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1392249</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By private investment limited partnerships and a separately managed account</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This Form 4 is filed jointly by Robert G. Moses and RGM Capital, LLC (&quot;RGM&quot;). Robert G. Moses and RGM are deemed to be 10%  beneficial owners of the Issuer. The securities reported on this Form 4 are either held in the name of private investment limited partnerships, of which RGM is the general partner, or in the name of a separately managed account for which RGM is investment manager. By virtue of his position as the managing member of RGM, Mr. Moses may be deemed to  beneficially own the securities reported in this Form 4.  Mr. Moses and RGM each disclaim beneficial ownership of the reported securities except to the extent of his or its pecuniary interest therein, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that Mr. Moses or RGM is the beneficial owner of the securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert G. Moses on behalf of RGM Capital, LLC</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Robert G. Moses</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-12-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
