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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2014-10-11</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000075829</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PALL CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PLL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001588233</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Taylor Julie R.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O PALL CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>25 HARBOR PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>PORT WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11050</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>SVP, Human Resources</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>After Tax Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2014-10-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2410.45</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>82.97</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2018-10-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2018-10-11</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2410.45</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2410.45</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The Units will vest and become convertible into shares of Common Stock of the Issuer on a one-for-one basis on the date shown in Column 6, subject to adjustments if the Reporting Person's employment with the Issuer terminates under certain circumstances prior to the date shown in Column 6.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 1,205.226 matching units granted by the Issuer for which the price in column 8 was not paid.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The Date Exercisable (vesting date) and the Expiration Date are the fourth anniversary of the date such units were credited to the Reporting Person, or, if sooner, the date on which the Reporting Person's employment with the Issuer terminates, or, if later, the date to which the Reporting Person elects to defer receipt of the Issuer's common stock beyond the vesting date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Adam Mandelbaum as Attorney-in-Fact for Julie R. Taylor</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2014-10-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
