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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001139499-04-000001.txt : 20040107
<SEC-HEADER>0001139499-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040107
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040107140651
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001139499-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040105
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040107

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			HARDINGE INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000313716
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MACHINE TOOLS, METAL CUTTING TYPES [3541]
		IRS NUMBER:				160470200
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NY
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HARDING DRIVE
		CITY:			ELMIRA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14902
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6077342281

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE HARDINGE DRIVE
		CITY:			ELMIRA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14902

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	HARDINGE BROTHERS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ERVIN J PATRICK
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001139499

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15760
		FILM NUMBER:		04512651

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		90 MORNINGSIDE DR
		CITY:			ELMIRA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14905
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6077342281

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		90 MORNINGSIDE DR
		CITY:			ELMIRA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14905
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-05</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000313716</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HARDINGE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HDNG</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001139499</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ERVIN J PATRICK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>90 MORNINGSIDE DR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELMIRA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14905</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chair of the Board Pres. &amp; CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1911</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.61</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>76468</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This statement of changes in beneficial ownership does not include 383,886 shares of the issuer's common stock held by J. Patrick Ervin and Richard L. Simons as Trustees of a trust under the issuer's pension plan, a tax qualified plan, and also does not include 1,371.76 shares held in the reporting person's account under the issuer's Section 401(k) plan.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Philip Hunter, as Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to Power of Attorney dated December 27,1996, original of which was perviously filed with the Commission</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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