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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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 3413tvLPvH+4opGAaXCsFg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001227239-04-000001.txt : 20040127
<SEC-HEADER>0001227239-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040127
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040127093229
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001227239-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	5
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040127

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			DANBY CLIVE M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001227239

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		5
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-15760
		FILM NUMBER:		04544813

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O SAYLESS & 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>5
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001227239</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DANBY CLIVE M</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 - Engineering</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>104.36</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.57</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>239.13</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By qualified plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Issuer's price per share on 12/31/03. The shares shown were purchased at various prices by the qualified plan trustee during the year 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 104.36 shares allocated to reporting person's account periodically during 2003 under the terms of the Hardinge, Inc. savings plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Does not inlcude 11,000 shares owned directly by reporting person.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>J. Philip Hunter, as Attorney-in-Fact, pursuant to Power of Attorney dated April 9, 2001, original of which was previously filed with the Commission</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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