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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2021-02-17</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000702325</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>FIRST MIDWEST BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>FMBI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001564736</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Chulos Nicholas J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>8750 WEST BRYN MAWR AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 1300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CHICAGO</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60631</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP, Gen. Counsel, Corp. Sec'y</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2021-02-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8889</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.315</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>65965</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10459.2764</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Profit Sharing Plan Trust</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Restricted stock award granted pursuant to the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. 2018 Stock and Incentive Plan.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The number of shares represented by this award was determined by dividing the dollar value of the award granted to the Reporting Person by $18.315 (the average high and low sale price of one share of the Issuer's common stock on the date of grant).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Between January 10, 2020 and January 25, 2021, the Reporting Person acquired 823.9204 shares of First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. common stock under the First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. Savings and Profit Sharing Plan. This information is based on a plan statement dated January 25, 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Debi Rouse, Attorney-in-fact for Nicholas J. Chulos</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2021-02-19</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
