-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 PFcwSH5ycQaIQD/A+I5BtgLT9za44G4WzvoiYctQOv/rrgiyIhaIkPDfzEhO5lI6
 2hsJr/jXMHC81QSlJVkrVw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000821616-06-000013.txt : 20060912
<SEC-HEADER>0000821616-06-000013.hdr.sgml : 20060912
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20060912104009
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000821616-06-000013
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20060911
FILED AS OF DATE:		20060912
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20060912

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:			LINDSAY RICHARD P
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001206508
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-10581
		FILM NUMBER:		061085575

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O BOSTON BEER CO
		STREET 2:		75 ARLINGTON STREET
		CITY:			BOSTON
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			02116
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6173685035
</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>2006-09-11</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206508</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LINDSAY RICHARD P</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2 HOLLAND WAY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>EXETER</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NH</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>03833</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP and CFO</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Right to Purchase</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>12.03</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2006-09-11</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2016-09-11</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common stock, $0.02 par value</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>50000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>50000</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 Amended and Restated 2005 Equity and Incentive Plan. Grant becomes exercisable in three equal installments on 9/11/2007, 9/11/2008 and 9/11/2009.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Richard P Lindsay</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2006-09-12</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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