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

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-04-01</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-04-06</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000806817</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>JENNIFER CONVERTIBLES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>JEN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001239409</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERMAN MARK</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O JENNIFER CONVERTIBLES INC</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>419 CROSSWAYS PARK DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WOODBURY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>11797</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 $.01/share</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate>
                <value>2004-04-01</value>
            </deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>3.58</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>47000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>SPOUSE</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The 2,000 shares of common stock reported on this Form 4 were purchased by Mr. Berman's spouse.  Of the 47,000 shares beneficially owned by Mr. Berman, 27,000 shares are directly owned by Mr. Berman, 15,000 shares are owned by Mr. Berman's spouse, 2,000 shares are owned by CWAI Consultants Corp. (Money Purchase Keogh f/b/o Mark Berman) and 3,000 shares are held by CWAI Consultants Corp. (Profit Sharing Keogh f/b/o Mark Berman).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MARK BERMAN</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-04-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

