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

    <schemaVersion>X0304</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2012-03-14</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000810117</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SOUTHWEST ROYALTIES INSTITUTIONAL INCOME FUND VII-B L P</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>n/a</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000821699</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SOUTHWEST ROYALTIES INC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>6 DESTA DRIVE, SUITE 6500</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MIDLAND</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>79705</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Limited Partnerships Interest</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2012-03-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>8490.5</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>262.04</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">On March 14, 2012, the Issuer merged into Southwest Royalties, Inc., its general partner and a wholly owned subsidiary of Clayton Williams Energy, Inc. Upon the merger all limited partnerships interest of the Issuer were converted into the right to receive cash consideration and were cancelled in accordance with the Agreement and Plan of Merger between Southwest Royalties, Inc. and the Issuer dated October 28, 2011.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Mel G. Riggs, signed on behalf of Southwest Royalties, Inc. by Mel G. Riggs, President</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2012-03-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
