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

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2011-05-03</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000850693</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALLERGAN INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AGN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001332764</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Dunsire Deborah</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2525 DUPONT DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>IRVINE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92612</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2011-05-03</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>4800</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>29100</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents shares of the Issuer's common stock underlying restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;) awarded to the Reporting Person. The RSUs will vest in full upon the earlier to occur of (i) the first anniversary of the grant date, or (ii) the annual meeting during the calendar year following the grant date of the RSUs at which one or more members of the Issuer's board of directors is standing for re-election, provided the Reporting Person remains in the Issuer's service on such date.  The RSUs may vest earlier on an accelerated basis in the event of the Reporting Person's termination of service due to death or disability.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The shares of the Issuer's common stock underlying the RSUs will be issued to the Reporting Person no later than ten (10) days after the RSUs vest.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Includes 4,800 of the Issuer's common stock underlying the RSUs awarded.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Matthew J. Maletta, Attorney-in-Fact for Deborah Dunsire</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-05-05</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
