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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-05-27</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000863821</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>RESTORATION HARDWARE INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>RSTO</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001065424</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>GORDON STEPHEN J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O RESTORATION HARDWARE, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>15 KOCH ROAD, SUITE J</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CORTE MADERA</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94925</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-27</value>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-27</value>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1960</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
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                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>721698</value>
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                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-05-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>6.76</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                    <value>721298</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>718198</value>
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            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>103541</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>See Footnote</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">By the Stephen J. Gordon 1998 Qualified Grantor Retained Annuity Trust, of which Mr. Gordon is the sole trustee.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Stephen J. Gordon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-06-01</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

