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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-03-21</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000719220</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>S&amp;T BANCORP INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>STBA</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001157921</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KOCHVAR MARK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>800 PHILADELPHIA STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>INDIANA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>PA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>15701</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SR EXEC VICE PRESIDENT &amp; CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-03-21</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4469</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>25.65</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26047.464</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>22064.375</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>401-k</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On March 21, 2016, the Compensation and Benefits Committee of the Registrant's board of directors approved the grant of restricted stock under the S&amp;T Bancorp, Inc. 2014 Incentive Plan for an incentive under the 2016 S&amp;T Bancorp, Inc. Long Term Incentive Plan.  The actual number of shares granted and communicated to the Reporting Person was determined based on the target incentive payout as a percentage of the Reporting Person's base salary on the grant date divided by the average of the high and low prices of S&amp;T Bancorp, Inc. common stock over the 10-day trading period ending on the grant date.  One-half of the shares will be earned based on remaining with S&amp;T for three years.  The other half will be earned based on S&amp;T's Return on Average Equity and Cumulative Total Shareholder Return performance over a three year period.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Timothy P. McKee P.O.A. for Mark Kochvar</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-23</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
