-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 EusXRGAM7dtPgM1s06obZIjFKr9rDYubOi+ZWtFwaKGB/wli0rF7GJkjDYGYxdku
 jfN1a8Sx/AtETCoizl3zng==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001405422-09-000001.txt : 20090109
<SEC-HEADER>0001405422-09-000001.hdr.sgml : 20090109
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090109142224
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001405422-09-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090107
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090109
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090109

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Rausch David M.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001405422

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-05286
		FILM NUMBER:		09518177

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(704)873-7202

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2700 WEST FRONT STREET
		CITY:			STATESVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28677

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC CORP /DE/
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000055529
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	LABORATORY APPARATUS & FURNITURE [3821]
		IRS NUMBER:				380715562
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0430

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2700 W FRONT ST
		CITY:			STATESVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28677
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7048737202

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 1842
		CITY:			STATESVILLE
		STATE:			NC
		ZIP:			28687-1842

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT CORP /DE/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19861216

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	KEWAUNEE MANUFACTURING CO
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19680108
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-01-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000055529</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KEWAUNEE SCIENTIFIC CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>kequ</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001405422</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Rausch David M.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2700 WEST FRONT STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>STATESVILLE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>28677</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP - Construction Services</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>150</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.4799</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>650</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-01-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.4677</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>700</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ David M. Rausch</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-01-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----