<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-12-05</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000006951</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>APPLIED MATERIALS INC /DE</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMAT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001379532</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Davis George S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>P.O. BOX 58039, 3050 BOWERS AV, M/S 1268</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95054</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-05</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>250000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1210430.5476</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1460.457</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By The 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents performance shares that will be converted on a one-for-one basis into shares of Applied Materials, Inc. common stock upon vesting, which vesting depends on the achievement of specified performance goals. Provided such goals are achieved, vesting is scheduled to occur no earlier than in four equal annual installments beginning December 19, 2013 (subject to continued employment through each applicable vest date). The number of shares shown is the target amount. The actual number of shares that may vest ranges from 0% to 150% of the target amount, depending on achievement of specified performance goals.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Increased number of shares reflects: (a) periodic payroll acquisitions under Employees' Stock Purchase Plan that are exempt under Rule 16a-10 and Rule 16b-3 and (b) a transfer to direct ownership of 220 shares of common stock previously reported as indirectly held by trust.  Number of shares includes: (a) 638,500 performance shares previously reported that in the future will be converted on a one-for-one basis into shares of Applied Materials, Inc. common stock upon vesting, which vesting is scheduled to occur as follows: (i) 269,500 shares are scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2012 through 2014; (ii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 36,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in December 2013; (iii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 233,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2013 through 2015, which number of shares is the target amount, and the actual number of shares that may vest ranges from 0% to 150% of the target amount, depending on achievement of specified performance goals; and (iv) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 100,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in installments during each July of 2013 through 2016, which number of shares is the target amount, and the actual number of shares that may vest ranges from 0% to 150% of the target amount, depending on achievement of specified performance goals; and (b) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 17,000 shares of restricted stock will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2013 through 2015, which number of shares is the target amount, and the actual number of shares that may vest ranges from 0% to 150% of the target amount, depending on achievement of specified performance goals (all vesting is subject to continued employment through each applicable vest date).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Increased number of shares reflects dividend reinvestment under the 401(k) Plan that is exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charmaine Mesina, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-12-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
