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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

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

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001182296</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KELLY KATHLEEN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O AMERICAN TECHNICAL CERAMICS CORP</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>17 STEPAR PL</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HUNTINGTON STATION</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11746</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President, Administration</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-09-25</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>D</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>69174</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>24.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The dispositions reported in this Form 4 were in connection with the merger of the issuer with Admiral Byrd Acquisition Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of AVX Corporation, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 15, 2007, by and among the issuer, AVX Corporation and Admiral Byrd Acquisition Sub, Inc. (the &quot;Merger&quot;), in exchange for the right to receive a cash payment equal to $24.75 per share.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/S/KATHLEEN KELLY</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-09-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
