<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-06-25</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000817161</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALARIS MEDICAL SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AMI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001216634</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MATHEWS ROBERT</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Finance and Treasurer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>AMI Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>21000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>1.344</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>55386</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>AMI Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>4000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>2</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>59386</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <nonDerivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>AMI Common Stock</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>25000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>11.843</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>34386</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </nonDerivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>AMI Stock Option Grant</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>12.89</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-25</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>23263</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>12.89</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-06-25</value>
            <footnoteId id="F3"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-25</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>AMI Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>23263</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>275699</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>AMI Stock Option Grant</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>12.89</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-06-25</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>36737</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>12.89</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2004-06-25</value>
            <footnoteId id="F4"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2013-06-25</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>AMI Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>36737</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>312436</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>AMI Stock Option Exercise</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>1.344</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>21000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>1.344</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-06-05</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2010-07-26</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>AMI Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>21000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>291436</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>AMI Stock Option Exercise</value>
            <footnoteId id="F2"/>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>2</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2003-07-02</value>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>4000</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>2</value>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>D</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2003-05-07</value>
            <footnoteId id="F5"/>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2009-12-23</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>AMI Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>4000</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>287436</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Under registration statement effective May 16, 2003; net of $0.657 per share underwriting discount.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Right to Buy</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Vests in four installments:  5,082 shares vest on 06/25/2004; 5,212 shares vest on 06/25/2005; 5,212 shares vest on 06/25/2006; and 7,757 shares vest on 06/25/2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Vests in four installments:  9,918 shares vest on 06/25/2004; 9,788 shares vest on 06/25/2005; 9,788 shares vest on 06/25/2006; 7,243 shares vest on 06/25/2007.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Vests if and when the price of the company's common stock reaches certain levels for certain lengths of time or seven years after grant.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stuart E. Rickerson as Attorney-in-Fact for Robert Mathews</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-07-02</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

