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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HE4/Zp/peRGcq0qcCS2l6U6QAzqUPVwI36FC3PVPGIO+iyAuy23A7+QNVAxSumdr
 9F870N8UAMyhV3qIuS/+6Q==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000902166-04-000002.txt : 20040510
<SEC-HEADER>0000902166-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20040510
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040510152040
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000902166-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040507
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040510

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 STEPHEN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000902166
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			NJ
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08739
		FILM NUMBER:		04792749

	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>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-07</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000902166</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MILSTEIN STEPHEN E</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>2004-05-07</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3928</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>156405</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2608156</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">This includes 67,445 shares held by the Stephen Milstein Trust and 13,032 shares held by the SGM Trust, trusts established for the benefit of the children of Stephen Milstein.  Such shares are reported by reason of Rule 16a-1(a)(2)(ii)(2), but Stephen Milstein disclaims any pecuniary interest in such shares.  This also includes 75,928 shares owned by Samgray, L.P., a limited partnership.  Stephen 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/ Stephen Milstein</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-05-10</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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