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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-10-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001563106</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Salehpour Ali</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>Sr. VP, GM New Mrkts &amp; Service</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-10-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>11274</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>30.15</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>467058</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents number of shares that were automatically withheld upon vesting of performance shares to cover tax withholding obligations in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Increased number of shares reflects periodic payroll acquisitions under Employees' Stock Purchase Plan that are exempt under Rule 16a-10 and Rule 16b-3.  Number of shares includes 371,307 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) 101,750 shares are scheduled to vest in December 2016, (b) 77,352 shares are scheduled to vest in installments in December of each of 2016 through 2018, with up to an additional 51,568 shares that may vest, depending on achievement of specified performance goals, (c) 132,205 shares will be scheduled to vest in installments in December of each of 2016 through 2019, 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 (d) 60,000 shares are scheduled to vest in installments in October of 2017 and 2018 (all vesting is subject to continued employment through each applicable vest date).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ To-Anh Nguyen, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-10-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
