-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Im3ERp+KD/G3HoQBCDx5KQgatubh109Zh64iaL+jySU4d7Km3Y9H2njP0PFS7I6I
 KtH9zRA7I+rXGQ8SkfANdA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001246067-05-000001.txt : 20050112
<SEC-HEADER>0001246067-05-000001.hdr.sgml : 20050112
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050112091125
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001246067-05-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050111
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050112
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050112

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GEORGE DAVID P JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001246067

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-26016
		FILM NUMBER:		05524746

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O PALMETTO BANCSHARES INC
		STREET 2:		PO BOX 49 301 HILLCREST DRIVE
		CITY:			LAURENS
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29360

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PALMETTO BANCSHARES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000706874
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	STATE COMMERCIAL BANKS [6022]
		IRS NUMBER:				742235055
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			SC
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		301 HILLCREST DR
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 49
		CITY:			LAURENS
		STATE:			SC
		ZIP:			29360
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8649844551
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-01-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000706874</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PALMETTO BANCSHARES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>n/a</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001246067</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GEORGE DAVID P JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PALMETTO BANCSHARES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 49 301 HILLCREST DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LAURENS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29360</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $5 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>13511</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options, Rights to Buy</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.75</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-01-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>X</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>8.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>1998-12-31</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2007-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $5 Par Value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Lauren Slaughter with POA, Accounting and Finance Manager, The Palmetto Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Palmetto Bancshares, Inc.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-01-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----