-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000901845-04-000001.txt : 20040116
<SEC-HEADER>0000901845-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040116165011
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000901845-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040114
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040116

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000718916
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-DEPARTMENT STORES [5311]
		IRS NUMBER:				221970303
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0530

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1830 RTE 130
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6093877800

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MILSTEIN ANDREW R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000901845
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08739
		FILM NUMBER:		04530132

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CO
		STREET 2:		1830 ROUTE 130
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6093877800
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-01-14</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000718916</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY WAREHOUSE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BCF</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901845</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILSTEIN ANDREW R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1830 RT. 130</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BURLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.9862</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.3406</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-01-16</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10500</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>20.0136</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2833395</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>

    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The amount of securities held indirectly by Andrew Milstein is 154,783.  This includes 64,806 shares held by the Andrew Milstein Trust and 8,302 shares held by the AHM Trust and 9,675 shares held by the DJM Trust, trusts established for the benefit of the children of Andrew Milstein.  Such shares are reported by reason of Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(ii)(A), but Andrew Milstein disclaims any pecuniary interest in such shares.  This also includes 72,000 shares owned by Samgray, L.P., a limited partnership.  Andrew Milstein, as a member of Latzim Family LLC (the general partner of Samgray, L.P.) and as a limited partner of Samgray, L.P. has a pecuniary interest in these shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Brian Flynn by power of attorney previously filed</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-01-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

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