-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 CQs7Hq+ZNf2xhRG4HnV7tUvrYAhVpJHsuJP9RQcH6UWneotIUMXr/GGhDYAcc/2C
 HbE8JHZEKRc0QhSmtn/cTQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001271319-07-000017.txt : 20070420
<SEC-HEADER>0001271319-07-000017.hdr.sgml : 20070420
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20070420154614
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001271319-07-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20070419
FILED AS OF DATE:		20070420
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20070420

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000794685
		IRS NUMBER:				222736509
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		ONE CORP CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149215070

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GABELLI MARIO J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001185533

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	811-04700
		FILM NUMBER:		07778946

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GABELLI ASSET MANAGEMENT INC
		STREET 2:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			16580
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9149215017

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O GABELLI ASSET MANAGEMENT INC
		STREET 2:		ONE CORPORATE CENTER
		CITY:			RYE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10580
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2007-04-19</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000794685</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GABELLI EQUITY TRUST INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GAB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001185533</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GABELLI MARIO J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O GAMCO INVESTORS, INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE CORPORATE CENTER</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>RYE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10580</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Par Value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2007-04-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>60600</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>10.033</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>769435</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>GGCP, Inc.</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, Par Value $0.001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>985321.27</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Mr. Gabelli has less than 100% interest in this entity. The securities reported reflect the total number of securities beneficially owned by this entity, which is greater than Mr. Gabelli's indirect pecuniary interest. Mr. Gabelli hereby disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares by this entity which are in excess of his pecuniary interest.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ James E. McKee as Attorney-in-Fact for Mario J. Gabelli</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2007-04-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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