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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-01-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001510815</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Nalamasu Omkaram</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>Senior VP, CTO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-01-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3217</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.92</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>507138</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents number of shares that was automatically withheld upon vesting of performance shares to cover tax withholding obligations in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Number of shares includes 270,000 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: (a) 7,500 shares are scheduled to vest in February 2015; (b) 75,000 shares are scheduled to vest in installments in July of 2015 through 2017; and (c) 187,500 shares are scheduled to vest in installments in December of 2015 and 2016 (notwithstanding the foregoing, vesting of shares that is scheduled to occur in calendar year 2015 will accelerate as of three trading days prior to the expected closing date of the business combination between Applied and Tokyo Electron Limited, subject to Dr. Nalamasu's continued employment and being a &quot;disqualified individual&quot; under IRS Code Section 4985 through the accelerated vest date). Number of shares also includes 72,195 performance shares previously reported that will be scheduled to vest in installments in December of 2015 through 2018, 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>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Harpreet S. Bal, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-01-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
