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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-09-25</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000766430</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AMERICAN TECHNICAL CERAMICS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000859163</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AVX CORP</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>801 17TH AVE SOUTH</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>PO BOX 867</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MYRTLE BEACH</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>SC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>29577</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>9032803</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">All of American Technical Ceramics Corp.s outstanding common stock was converted into the right to receive $24.75 per share in a merger of American Technical Ceramics Corp. into Admiral Byrd Acquisition Sub, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the reporting person on September 25, 2007.  Admiral Byrd Acquisition Sub, Inc. was merged into American Technical Ceramics Corp., with American Technical Ceramics Corp. as the surviving corporation.  Pursuant to the merger, each outstanding share of Admiral Byrd Acquisition Sub, Inc. (1,000 shares total) was converted into one share of American Technical Ceramics Corp. common stock, each of which is beneficially owned by the reporting person immediately following the merger.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kurt P. Cummings, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
