-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 ED3iWwBuMlvyV7y1e7nDXZTsp5ZpLnSyFcRGogvry93Qx3d1WLkaByEllzBuz4+k
 ClxDYwTSk16GLO0xQPV8BQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001200294-04-000001.txt : 20040818
<SEC-HEADER>0001200294-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20040818
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040818125247
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001200294-04-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20040817
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040818

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:			ESTATE OF HENRIETTA MILSTEIN
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001200294

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08739
		FILM NUMBER:		04983611

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY 1830
		STREET 2:		ROUTE 130
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08016
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6093879800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY 1830
		STREET 2:		ROUTE 130
		CITY:			BURLINGTON
		STATE:			NJ
		ZIP:			08016
</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>2004-08-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001200294</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>ESTATE OF HENRIETTA MILSTEIN</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O BURLINGTON COAT FACTORY 1830</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ROUTE 130</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BURLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NJ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>08016</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $1.00 Par Value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-08-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>G</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>6743984</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Monroe G. Milstein, Executor</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-08-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

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