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

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-08-19</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000808326</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EMCORE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EMKR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001511120</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Gomez Alfredo</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>10420 RESEARCH ROAD SE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ALBUQUERQUE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NM</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>87123</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Gen. Counsel and Corp. Sec.</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emcore Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-08-19</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>334</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.50</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>103055</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Emcore Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5501</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Trust 401(k)</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Includes 100,000 shares of restricted stock granted under the Company's 2010 Equity Incentive Plan, 50,000 vesting in three equal installments beginning on January 28, 2012 and 50,000 vesting in three equal installments beginning on May 3, 2012.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares attributable to EMCORE Corporation 401(k) account as of June 30, 2011.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Shares were purchased under the Company's Officer and Director Share Purchase Plan in a transaction exempt from Section 16b pursuant to Rule 16b-3(d).</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Alfredo Gomez</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-08-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
