-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
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 plrWzRb8ThWGoFMDRC19vg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000821616-05-000006.txt : 20050525
<SEC-HEADER>0000821616-05-000006.hdr.sgml : 20050525
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20050525105723
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000821616-05-000006
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20050524
FILED AS OF DATE:		20050525
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20050525

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BENTLEY PHARMACEUTICALS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000821616
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				591513162
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BENTLEY PARK
		STREET 2:		2 HOLLAND WAY
		CITY:			EXETER
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03833
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6036586100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		BENTLEY PARK
		STREET 2:		2 HOLLAND WAY
		CITY:			EXETER
		STATE:			NH
		ZIP:			03833

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BELMAC CORP /FL/
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SPIEGEL JOHN W
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001015219

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10581
		FILM NUMBER:		05855824

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUNTRUST BANKS INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 4418 MC 643
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30302
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4045887165

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		SUNTRUST BANKS INC
		STREET 2:		P O BOX 4418 MC643
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30302
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-05-24</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000821616</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>BENTLEY PHARMACEUTICALS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>BNT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001015219</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SPIEGEL JOHN W</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>BENTLEY PARK</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2 HOLLAND WAY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EXETER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03833</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, $.02 par value</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>1000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>11.13</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2012-06-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.02 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.04</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-05-21</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.02 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.5</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-06-07</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.02 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeHolding>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>10.785</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2005-05-24</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2015-05-24</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock, $.02 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>20000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options were granted under terms of the Company's 2001 Directors' Stock Option Plan as remuneration for services as a member of the Board of Directors.  Grant becomes exercisable in two equal installments on 6/21/2003 and 6/21/2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options were granted under terms of the Company's 2001 Directors' Stock Option Plan as remuneration for services as a member of the Board of Directors.  Grant became exercisable in four equal installments on 7/31/2003, 10/31/2003, 1/31/2004 and 4/30/2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Options were granted under terms of the Company's 2001 Directors' Stock Option Plan as remuneration for services as a member of the Board of Directors.  Grant becomes exercisable in four equal installments on 7/31/2004, 10/31/2004, 1/31/2005 and 4/30/2005.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Options were granted under terms of the Company's 2005 Equity and Incentive Plan as remuneration for services as a member of the Board of Directors.  Grant becomes exercisable in four equal installments on 7/31/2005, 10/31/2005, 1/31/2006 and 4/30/2006.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>John W. Spiegel</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-05-25</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----