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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-12-29</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000719731</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HERITAGE BANKSHARES INC /VA</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>hbks</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001082155</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MEREDITH PETER M JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>MEREDITH CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 11265</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORFOLK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>23517-0265</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</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-12-29</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>900</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>9.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>140553</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See footnotes</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes (a) 30,598 shares held in the name of Meredith Realty Holding Company, L.L.C., (b) 36,294 shares held in the name of Pomar Holding Company, L.L.C., (c) 6,000 shares held in the name of Meredith Realty Associates, (d) 20,666 shares owned by Mr. Meredith's children in UTMA accounts for which Mr. Meredith and his spouse are the custodians, and (e) 28,065 shares (including the 900 shares reported in this Form 4 filing) owned by Mr. Meredith's spouse.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">All 900 shares reported in this Form 4 as having been purchased were purchased in the name of the reporting person's spouse.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Peter M. Meredith, Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-12-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
