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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>0001227238-05-000001.txt : 20050225
<SEC-HEADER>0001227238-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050225
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050225121721
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001227238-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050224
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050225
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050225

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			COLVIN JOSEPH T
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227238

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15760
		FILM NUMBER:		05639790

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAYLES & EVANS
		STREET 2:		ONE WEST CHURCH STREET
		CITY:			ELMIRA
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			14901

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
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-02-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227238</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>COLVIN JOSEPH T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O SAYLES &amp; EVANS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE WEST CHURCH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ELMIRA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>14901</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President - Workholding</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-02-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>I</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1478.32</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>14.54</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>645.98</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by qualified plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27942</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2190</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>by spouse</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The transfer reported represents an intra-plan transfer from the Hardinge stock  fund into other investment options within the Hardinge Inc. Retirement Plan, a qualified plan.  The Hardinge stock fund is comprised of a unitized pool of Hardinge common stock and cash, and as such does not allocate a specific number of shares of Hardinge stock to each participant.  Individual balances in the fund are accounted for on a unitized basis.  The number of securities reported in Columns 4 and 5 reflects the amount of the balance transferred out of the Hardinge stock fund on the transaction date, divided by the closing price of the Hardinge common stock as reported on NASDAQ on the transaction date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">This price represents the closing price of Hardinge common stock as reported on NASDAQ on the transaction date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Philip Hunter, as Attorney-in-Fact pursuant to Power of Attorney dated December 27, 1996, the original of which was previously filed with the Commission</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-02-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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