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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-06-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000750199</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ENERGY PARTNERS LTD</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EPL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001137999</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SCHWARZ JOHN F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ENERGY PARTNERS, LTD.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>201 ST. CHARLES AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW ORLEANS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>LA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>70170</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Deferred Shares</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-06-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8547</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>8547</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F4"/>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>8547</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares of restricted stock granted on June 3, 2010 under the issuer's Board Compensation Program and 2009 Long Term Incentive Plan, each as amended from time to time, and deferred under the issuer's Second Amended and Restated Stock and Deferral Plan for Non-Employee Directors, as amended from time to time.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Each deferred share is the economic equivalent of one share of the issuer's common stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">One-half of the deferred shares vested immediately on the transaction date, and the remaining one-half of the deferred shares will vest on the day preceding the date of the next annual meeting of stockholders.  The deferred shares will be delivered to the reporting person in a lump sum payable on the date the reporting person ceases his service as a director.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The number of shares granted was determined by reference to the closing price per share of the issuer's common stock on the New York Stock Exchange on June 3, 2010 of $11.70.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John H. Peper, Attorney in Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-06-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
