<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-07-06</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000832101</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>IDEX CORP /DE/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>iex</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001206636</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>TOKARZ MICHAEL T</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O IDEX CORPORATION</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>630 DUNDEE ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NORTHBROOK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60062</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>DEFERRED COMPENSATION UNITS (DCU'S)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-07-06</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>262</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>34.35</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>COMMON STOCK</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>262</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11626</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">ACQUIRED UNDER THE DIVIDEND OF THE SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED IDEX CORPORATION DIRECTORS DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AT A PRICE PER DCU OF $34.35. EACH DCU IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SHARES OF IDEX CORPORATION COMMON STOCK ON A ONE-FOR-ONE BASIS AT CESSATION OF SERVICE AS A DIRECTOR OF THE COMPANY.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">ON MAY 28, 2004, THE COMMON STOCK OF IDEX CORPORATION SPLIT 3 FOR 2, RESULTING IN THE REPORTING PERSON'S ACQUISITION OF 3,788 ADDITIONAL DCU'S</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>MICHAEL T. TOKARZ</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-07</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

