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

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2018-03-02</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000788329</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JOUT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001255403</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LONDON TERRY E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>5515 PRESTON FAIRWAYS DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75252</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2018-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1140</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20637</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person received an award of restricted stock units, all of which units vest on the first anniversary of the date of grant (i.e. March 2, 2019).  Each restricted stock unit represents one share of Class A Common Stock issuable on such vesting date.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The number of securities beneficially owned following the reported transaction does not include: 1,320, 1,048, 1,608 and 2,010 shares of Class A Common Stock of the issuer underlying four separate awards of restricted stock units previously granted to the reporting person, which have vested on or prior to the date of this report but for which an election has been made by the reporting person to defer receipt of the underlying shares; (b) 1,279 shares of Class A Common Stock of the issuer underlying an award of restricted stock units granted to the reporting person on March 3, 2017 and which units did not vest until March 3, 2018; and (c) the 1,140 shares of Class A Common Stock of the issuer underlying the award of restricted stock units disclosed on this report.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Eric P. Hagemeier, Esq., pursuant to Power of Attorney</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-03-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
