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

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2023-12-13</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2023-12-14</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000874761</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>AES CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>AES</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001628839</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Mendoza Tish</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>4300 WILSON BOULEVARD</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>ARLINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>22203</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>EVP &amp; Chief HR Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2023-12-13</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>21678</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>18.95</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>167177</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reporting person's original Form 4 filed on December 14, 2023 inadvertently underreported the number of shares sold in connection with an option exercise and sale of shares on December 13, 2023. This Form 4/A is being filed to correct the error.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price. These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $18.94 to $18.97, inclusive. The reporting person undertakes to provide, upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff, the Issuer or a security holder of the Issuer, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the range.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Paul L. Freedman, attorney-in-fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2023-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
