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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2006-03-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000789933</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NACCO INDUSTRIES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001247883</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>DICKERMAN JENNIFER</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NACCO INDUSTRIES, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5875 LANDERBROOK DRIVE, STE. 300</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CLEVELAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>OH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>44124</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Sub Dir - Member of a Group</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-03-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2006-03-03</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>143.79</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>85513</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>Trust (MET)</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Class A Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Reporting Person serves as trustee of a revocable trust held for the benefit of Reporting Person's mother. Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Reporting Person succeeded her mother as Trustee (together with National City Bank of Cleveland) of such trusts, which are for the benefit of Reporting Person's children, nephews and nieces.  Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of all such shares.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>&quot;Remark on Insider Relationship&quot; - As a member of a &quot;group&quot; deemed to own more than 10% of an equity security as a result of being a party to a Stockholders' Agreement, dated as of March 15, 1990, beneficially owned by each of the signatories to such agreement (the &quot;Agreement&quot;, the Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of any such shares of Stock owned by any other signatory to the Agreement.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Constantine E. Tsipis, attorney-in-fact for Jennifer Dickerman</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-03-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
