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

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-12-19</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183258</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DICKERSON GARY E</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>President and CEO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-12-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>F</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>139970</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>162.33</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1942220</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </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 equity awards to cover tax withholding obligations in a transaction exempt under Rule 16b-3.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Number of shares includes 527,339 performance share units and 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) 77,922 restricted stock units are scheduled to vest in installments in December of 2024 through 2026, (b) 333,272 performance share units are scheduled to vest in installments in December of 2024 through 2026, 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, and (continued below)</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">(c) 116,145 performance share units are scheduled to vest in October of 2025, 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; notwithstanding the foregoing, if Mr. Dickerson's employment is terminated without cause prior to the end of the performance period, any unvested portion of the award will vest based on achievement of specified performance goals through his last day of employment (all vesting is subject to continued employment through each applicable vesting date).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ To-Anh Nguyen, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-12-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
