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

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-06-23</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2004-06-25</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <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>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-06-23</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1501</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>7.95</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>613548</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The purpose of this amendment is to file the power of attorney, dated June 23, 2004, appointing each of Gary G. Friedman, Patricia A. McKay and Murray Jukes, signing singly, as attorney-in-fact for Stephen J. Gordon.  The holdings reported herein are not new or revised but are being reported to gain access to the reporting system.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Exhibit 24 Power of Attorney.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Murray Jukes - attorney in fact for Stephen J. Gordon</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-07-26</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

