-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 FK3jcfJLLlORP1bbExXYtnp8b8gyF97s0D9wrUU77CbVuq21MhiJX5qZlb/H6eWU
 xOBvRwxpxtDuCUJbGhlO1Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000056978-08-000017.txt : 20081003
<SEC-HEADER>0000056978-08-000017.hdr.sgml : 20081003
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20081003121620
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000056978-08-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20081001
FILED AS OF DATE:		20081003
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20081003

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KULICKE & SOFFA INDUSTRIES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000056978
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SEMICONDUCTORS & RELATED DEVICES [3674]
		IRS NUMBER:				231498399
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			PA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1005 VIRGINIA DRIVE
		CITY:			FT. WASHINGTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19034
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2157846000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1005 VIRGINIA DRIVE
		CITY:			FT. WASHINGTON
		STATE:			PA
		ZIP:			19034

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ZADEL C WILLIAM
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001197462

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-00121
		FILM NUMBER:		081105860

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9784366635

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O MYKROLIS CORP
		STREET 2:		129 CONCORD RD
		CITY:			BILLERICA
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01821
</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>2008-10-01</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000056978</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KULICKE &amp; SOFFA INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>klic</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001197462</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ZADEL C WILLIAM</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1005 VIRGINIA DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>FORT WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>19034</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6833</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>32846</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Quarterly stock grant pursuant to the 2007 Equity Plan for Non-Employee Directors.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Susan L. Waters, Attorney-in-Fact for C. William Zadel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-10-03</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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