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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-02-01</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001610062</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Durn Daniel</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>3050 BOWERS AV, M/S 1268, P.O BOX 58039</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SANTA CLARA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95052-8039</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-02-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8105</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>53.28</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>169354</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 restricted stock units to cover tax withholding obligations in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Number of shares includes 151,621 performance shares and restricted stock units previously reported that in the future will be converted on a one-for-one basis into shares of Applied Materials common stock upon vesting, which vesting is scheduled to occur as follows: (a) 37,260 restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in installments in February of 2019 and 2020; notwithstanding the foregoing, if Mr. Durn's employment is terminated without cause prior to February 1, 2020, any unvested portion of the award shall immediately be fully vested upon such termination, (b) 33,535 performance shares are scheduled to vest in December 2019, which number of shares is the target amount, and the actual number of shares that may vest ranges from 0% to 200% of the target amount, depending on achievement of specified performance goals, (c) 22,356 restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in installments in December of 2018 and 2019, (d) 29,235 performance shares are scheduled to vest in December 2020, which number of shares is the target amount, and the actual number of shares that may vest ranges from 0% to 200% of the target amount, depending on the achievement of specified performance goals, and (e) 29,235 restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in installments in December of 2018 through 2020, depending on the achievement of a specified performance goal (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>2018-02-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
