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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-12-19</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001188935</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPLINTER MICHAEL R</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>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chairman and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value>E</value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1100</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2342271</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>90794</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.34</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2251477</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>282.145</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </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>300000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Revocable Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Number of shares includes: (a) 1,277,000 performance shares 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) 406,000 shares are scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2012 through 2014; (ii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 63,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2012 through 2013; and (iii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 808,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2012 through 2016, which number of shares is the target award level, 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; (b) 337,500 shares of restricted stock that are scheduled to vest as follows: (i) 95,500 shares are scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2012 through 2014; (ii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 9,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2012 through 2013; and (iii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 233,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2012 through 2015, which number of shares is the target award level, 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 (c) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 109,000 performance units will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2012 through 2015, which number of units is the target award level, and the actual number of units 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 vest date).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Represents shares that were automatically withheld upon vesting of performance shares and vesting of shares of restricted stock to cover tax withholding obligations in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Number of shares includes: (a) 1,117,750 performance shares previously reported that 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) 246,750 shares are scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2013 and 2014; (ii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 63,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in December 2013; and (iii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 808,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December 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; (b) 302,250 shares of restricted stock that are scheduled to vest as follows: (i) 60,250 shares are scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2013 and 2014; (ii) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 9,000 shares will be scheduled to vest in December 2013; and (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 (c) provided specified performance goals are achieved, 109,000 performance units will be scheduled to vest in installments during each December of 2013 through 2015, which number of units is the target amount, and the actual number of units 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="F4">Increased number of shares reflects dividend reinvestment under the 401(k) Plan that are exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charmaine Mesina, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
