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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-08</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000810876</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MINUTEMAN INTERNATIONAL INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MMAN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001260196</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NOLAN THOMAS J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>111 SOUTH ROHLWING ROAD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ADDISON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60101</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, CFO, Secretary &amp; Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4288</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.75</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of July 8, 2004, Minuteman International, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) consummated a merger with MMAN Acquisition Corp. effective as of November 8, 2004 (the &quot;Effective Time&quot;) and became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hako-Werke International GmbH.  As of the Effective Time, each outstanding share of the Issuer's common stock represented the right to receive a cash payment of $13.75 per share upon consummation of the merger, without interest and subject to any applicable withholding taxes.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">All of the Issuer's outstanding stock was canceled in the Merger.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Thomas J. Nolan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

