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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-02-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000074818</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ORBIT INTERNATIONAL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ORBT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001005977</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REISSMAN BRUCE</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ORBIT INTERNATIONAL CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>80 CABOT CT</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HAUPPAUGE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11788</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Executive VP and COO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.10 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-02-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>294631</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On February 24, 2004, the Issuer, to offset, in part, the significant reduction in the Reporting Person's salary commencing in the fiscal year ended December 31, 1999, issued to the Reporting Person 10,000 shares of common stock of the Issuer, valued at $8.03 per share, which shares will be held in escrow, subject to forfeiture, and shall vest over a period of three years as follows (i) 3,334 shall vest on February 24, 2005, (ii) 3,333 shall vest on February 24, 2006 and (iii) 3,333 shall vest on February 24, 2007.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Bruce Reissman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-02-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

