-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AQ3BkwDy48xr6+GkqYCdT1HHZHoNyLP1qi6glRlU6OneUUMuDKjMllANs+qyBSoI
 x6u8GakR3yrC5XnjaMZEKg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001253446-04-000003.txt : 20040102
<SEC-HEADER>0001253446-04-000003.hdr.sgml : 20040101
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20040102143503
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001253446-04-000003
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20031231
FILED AS OF DATE:		20040102

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			BALLOUN JAMES S
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001183388

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-22065
		FILM NUMBER:		04501044

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O AUITY BRANDS INC
		STREET 2:		1170 PEACHTREE STREET NE STE 2400
		CITY:			ATLANTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30309-7649
		BUSINESS PHONE:		4048531400

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			RADIANT SYSTEMS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000845818
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-COMPUTER INTEGRATED SYSTEMS DESIGN [7373]
		IRS NUMBER:				112749765
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			GA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 ALDERMAN DR
		STREET 2:		STE A
		CITY:			ALPHARETTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30202
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7707723000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1000 ALDERMAN DRIVE
		STREET 2:		STE A
		CITY:			ALPHARETTA
		STATE:			GA
		ZIP:			30202
</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>2003-12-31</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000845818</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RADIANT SYSTEMS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RADS</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001183388</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BALLOUN JAMES S</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Options (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>8.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-12-31</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <value>2004-06-30</value>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-12-31</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>10000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Not Applicable</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Melissa L. Coley, Attorney-in-Fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-12-31</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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