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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2013-01-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2013-01-03</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001368469</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Timko Thomas 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>Corp. VP, Corp. Contrlr. &amp; CAO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2013-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6784</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>11.44</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>116841</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares that were automatically withheld upon vesting of restricted stock units to cover tax withholding obligations in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3. Number of shares has been decreased in this amended Form 4 to reflect the fact that 6,784 shares (not 7,171 shares) should have been reported as withheld on Mr. Timko's Form 4 filed January 3, 2013.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Number of shares has been increased from the number of shares reported on Mr. Timko's Form 4 filed January 3, 2013 to reflect the correct number of shares withheld upon the vesting of restricted stock units. Number of shares includes 108,250 restricted stock units 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: (a) 25,000 shares are scheduled to vest in installments during each April of 2013 and 2014; (b) 68,250 shares are scheduled to vest in installments during each January of 2014 through 2017; and (c) 15,000 shares are scheduled to vest in installments during each June of 2013 through 2015 (all vesting is subject to continued employment through each applicable vest date).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Charmaine Mesina, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2013-01-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
