<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <documentType>5</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-03-31</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>1</notSubjectToSection16>

    <form3HoldingsReported>0</form3HoldingsReported>

    <form4TransactionsReported>0</form4TransactionsReported>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000866535</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>SVI SOLUTIONS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>SVI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001232945</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NIGEL M DAVEY</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <otherText>Prior reported as 10% holder.</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeSecurity>
        <securityTitle>
            <value>Warrants</value>
        </securityTitle>
        <conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <value>0.85</value>
        </conversionOrExercisePrice>
        <transactionDate>
            <value>2002-05-19</value>
            <footnoteId id="F1"/>
        </transactionDate>
        <transactionCoding>
            <transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType>
            <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
            <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
        </transactionCoding>
        <transactionTimeliness>
            <value></value>
        </transactionTimeliness>
        <transactionAmounts>
            <transactionShares>
                <value>250</value>
            </transactionShares>
            <transactionValue>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </transactionValue>
            <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                <value>A</value>
            </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
        </transactionAmounts>
        <exerciseDate>
            <value>2002-05-19</value>
        </exerciseDate>
        <expirationDate>
            <value>2004-05-19</value>
        </expirationDate>
        <underlyingSecurity>
            <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </underlyingSecurityTitle>
            <underlyingSecurityShares>
                <value>250</value>
            </underlyingSecurityShares>
        </underlyingSecurity>
        <postTransactionAmounts>
            <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                <value>5013</value>
            </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
        </postTransactionAmounts>
        <ownershipNature>
            <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <value>D</value>
            </directOrIndirectOwnership>
        </ownershipNature>
    </derivativeSecurity>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents date right to acquire warrant accrued.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">These securities were issued without additional consideration pursuant to that certain Investors' Rights Agreement entered into as of December 22, 2000 between SVI and the Reporting Persons, among others, in connection with the issuance of 2,941,176 shares of SVI's common stock on that date.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Nigel M. Davey</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-05-14</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

