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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-03-17</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>2010-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2253</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.5</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>147571</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) 12,908 shares held in the Meredith Trust U/A Dated 12/19/1984 FBO Peter Meredith III, of which Mr. Meredith and his spouse are the sole trustees, and (e) 38,841 shares (including the 2,253 shares reported in this Form 4) owned by Mr. Meredith's spouse. The balance of the shares reported herein are held in Mr. Meredith's name individually.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">All 2,253 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>2010-03-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
