-----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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 xW2K2BXk9DPi+P5zEFE1zw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000082811-03-000017.txt : 20030806
<SEC-HEADER>0000082811-03-000017.hdr.sgml : 20030806
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030806105924
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000082811-03-000017
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030422
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030806

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			REGAL BELOIT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000082811
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	MOTORS & GENERATORS [3621]
		IRS NUMBER:				390875718
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			WI
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 STATE ST
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6083648800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 STATE STREET
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511-6254

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BELOIT TOOL CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19730522

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	RECORD A PUNCH CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19690320

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KAPLAN KENNETH F
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001210926

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-07283
		FILM NUMBER:		03825328

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 STATE STREET
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6083648800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 STATE STREET
		CITY:			BELOIT
		STATE:			WI
		ZIP:			53511
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-04-22</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000082811</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>REGAL BELOIT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RBC</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001210926</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KAPLAN KENNETH F</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>200 STATE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>BELOIT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>WI</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>53511</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Vice President/CFO/Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-04-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.38</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-04-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-04-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>option</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>16.38</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-04-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>16.38</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2005-04-22</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-04-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>common stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>5000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>



    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Kenneth F. Kaplan</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-08-06</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----