<?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>0001276457</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>HAKO WERKE INTERNATIONAL GMBH</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>HAMBURGER STRASSE 209-239</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BAD OLDESLOE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>2M</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>D-23843</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>GERMANY</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Shares</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-08</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1151118</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>13.75</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">All of Issuer's Common Shares were cancelled in a merger of MMAN Acquisition Corp. (&quot;Merger Sub&quot;), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person, with and into the Issuer with the Issuer surviving as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Reporting Person pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger between the Issuer, the Reporting Person, and Merger Sub, dated July 8, 2004 and effective on November 8, 2004</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ PROF. DR. ECKART KOTTKAMP; Hako-Werke International GmbH; By: Prof. Dr. Eckart Kottkamp, its Managing Director</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-08</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

