<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-06-18</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000800459</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>HARMAN INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIES INC /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>HAR</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000901091</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HARMAN SIDNEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Executive Chairman</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-06-18</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>D</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>42691</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>77.65</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1504066</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>Trust</value></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">1,226,858 shares are held in a revocable trust for which the Reporting Person has sole pecuniary interest. 77,208 shares are held in a trust in which the Reporting Person is a co-trustee; the Reporting Person continues to report beneficial ownership of the Issuer's common stock held by this trust but disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. 200,000 shares are held in a charitable remainder trust of which the Reporting Person is a co-trustee and of which the Reporting Person is an indirect beneficiary; the Reporting Person continues to report beneficial ownership of the Issuer's common stock held by this trust but disclaims beneficial ownership except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote><footnote id="F2">Represents shares sold by the Reporting Person to the Issuer to satisfy federal tax obligations in excess of the minimum statutory withholding amount.</footnote><footnote id="F3">The closing price of the Issuer's common stock on the Transaction Date.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Sidney Harman - Power of Attorney on File</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-06-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

